Queen Charlotte Drive

Total Nights and Caravan Travelled on Tour to Date = 96 Nights & 3934 Kms

Queen Charlotte Drive is not a coastal drive like we would experience in the North Island.  Things are different down here in the Marlborough Sounds, which are described by geologists as “drowned valleys”.  These were formed millions of years ago by the mountains sinking and the ocean flooding into the low lying areas.  The narrow road took us through spectacular scenery up and over hills covered in native forest, then dipped down to one little bay after another.  There was a handy parking area just out of town looking over the ferry terminals and the town.  Both Bluebridge and the Inter Islander ferries were loading passengers and vehicular traffic for yet another crossing to Wellington.  It will be our turn tomorrow – lets hope for a calm sailing.

Looking over the ferry terminal

Just around a corner or two we stopped on the hill overlooking Shakespeare Bay.  Waimahara Wharf was opened by Prime Minister Helen Clark in May 2000 and was very busy indeed.  Piles of logs were neatly stacked and the boat at the wharf looked almost full to the brim with a load ready for transit.  

Waimahara Wharf, Shakespeare Bay

Plaque looking down over Shakespeare Bay

Marlborough Sounds offers up one glorious view after another.  We just had to stop at the next hilltop lookout. 

View of the Sounds

Some years ago there was the most delightful cake shop in Ngakuta Bay, run by a little old lady known to all as “Granny”.  She has long gone, as has the shop, but Ngakuta Bay is just as we remembered it, quiet and peaceful.  The 55 year old jetty was rebuilt last year and is available to all for fishing, swimming, boating, or for land lubbers like us, just to enjoy a walk along it’s length in the sunshine. 

Ngakuta Bay Jetty

Ngakuta Bay

Back in the car again we drove around to Anakiwa, which is the base for the Outward Bound School.  The school runs rigorous courses designed to test participates, build character and gain confidence in outdoor pursuits, and the McKenzie Trust gifted 22 acres of land to establish the school here.  Anakiwa is also the starting point of the famous 71km Queen Charlotte Walking Track.

Outward Bound, Anakiwa

Anakiwa Bay

Retracing our steps, we drove back to Picton and down to the waterfront.  The coastal trader Echo is now beached and spends life these days as a cafe/bar.  Built in 1905, she worked around the coast of New Zealand, and then shipped freight between Blenheim and Wellington for many years.   In 1942 Echo was commissioned by the U S Army  and patrolled the pacific Ocean on active duty until 1944.  Resuming her Cook Strait service she worked until retirement in 1965. With a history like this, it seemed the ideal place to finish our sight-seeing with a nice cup of coffee, we thought.  But it was not to be, as the Echo was not open.  Oh dear. 

Echo, down at the Picton waterfront

We celebrated the last night of our holiday with a meal out at the Picton RSA, roast pork and all the trimmings, and it was delicious.  What’s this sign we noticed on the door as we were leaving?  It asks, “Have you got your pumpkin?”

In my view, you just can’t beat a nice pumpkin, and these were only $1.50 each.  Guess what I’m taking home on the Cook Strait Ferry tomorrow?

Me and my pumpkin

Romany Rambler: Travelled 24,126 Km; 441 Total Nights