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The Marlborough Sounds: New Zealand just doesn’t come any cleaner or greener. Its
waters are so pure that many of these spectacular sunken sea valleys are used to
commercially cultivate a local delicacy, NZ Greenshell mussels. With over 1500 kilometres
of coastline the Marlborough Sounds also provides a pristine environment to enjoy
a number of sea-based activities from sailing and diving to kayaking and fishing.
A popular way to explore the region is by hiking the Queen Charlotte Track, a 71
kilometre trail leading from historic Ship Cove to Anakiwa. It provides breathtaking
views of the Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds en route, and is open to mountain
bikers from March through to November.
dat two: kenepuru sound to picton
Key
- Destinations
- Apex Locations
In the morning there’s no sign of Bob in the cottage but when I look out over the
bay I see him on the rocks, fishing line in hand. I make bacon and egg sandwiches
and a thermos of tea and wander over with this picnic breakfast.
“You know,” he says, after we’ve sat together quietly for a while admiring the scenery,
“it’s so peaceful here I could stay forever.” He yanks the line and continues. “Whenever
I’m stressed out and want the world to stop, I’m going to think of this moment,
sitting here with a rod, and all the clean, green and fresh sights, sounds and smells
of New Zealand,” he says, suddenly laughing at himself and tossing me his camera.
“Quick take a photo and bottle the moment, I’ll use it as a screensaver!”
We enjoy our breakfast quietly on the rocks then, as the fish aren’t biting, pack
our gear and reluctantly catch our water taxi ride back to Te Mahia. When we get
to the other side Bob consults his watch.“I guess it’s time to drive to Picton,”
he says sadly. “I guess so,” I reply, also feeling glum. We drive back to Linkwater
and reconnect with Queen Charlotte Drive, winding through several gorgeous bays
and headlands offering fantastic views of the Queen Charlotte Sound. At the Picton
lookout we stop to watch the Interislander Ferry pull into the terminal at the western
end of Picton’s palm-lined foreshore.
We find a quiet place to park and then Bob begins the enormous task of sorting out
his collection of souvenirs. I give him a hand. Out comes the box of macadamia butter
toffee crunch from Kerikeri, pumice from Lake Taupo, hand knitted jumpers from Geraldine,
soaps from Thames, paua shells from the Catlins and so it goes on...
To read the full story
Please click the link to download the full nelson to picton scenic drive, courtesy of apex car
rentals new zealand... the kiwi way
to read more extracts from our driving holiday's guidebook please click on any of
the following links:
north island scenic drives
south island scenic drives
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