New Zealand: Heading to the South Island

We left early in the morning for Wellington, hoping to catch the ferry at 2 to the south island.  It was a four hour drive that took us through more rolling hills, the high country (for the north island), and finally along the coast as we neared Wellington.  As forecasted, it was wet and windy in Wellington. 
The ferry service we rode was Interislander and it is the lifeline for connecting the north and south.  The ferry transports not just tourists and camper vans but also the trucks and semis moving goods between the islands.

Most rental car companies treat the north and south islands as separate countries, so we had to leave our car at the terminal and pick up a new one in Picton on the other side.

The overall experience felt closer to a cruise than a ferry.  We checked our bags and sat in the terminal with other passengers waiting to be called.  On board, they had a small cafe, bar, multiple decks, and even a movie theater   We initially chose a pair of seats near the cafe but with a view where we could enjoy lunch.

Once we got out of the protected harbor and into the strait we noticed that the ship was slanted to the left, but not rocking (see picture).  The waves were rolling in from our right and hitting the boat, splashing up onto the windows on the second deck. 

It took about two hours to reach the Marlborough sounds, which allowed us some time to catch up on our posts.  Once we got into the sounds the boat was steadier, but the rain picked up and continued non-stop for the remainder of the voyage.  Nate snuck outside a few times for pictures but never stayed long. 

Getting our luggage was easy and similar to an airport.  We found the Hertz and ended up with a red 2013 Camry, the same make/model/color as on the north island.  While checking in, we also grabbed a few maps and pamphlets - our collection continued to grow.

It was a short, but rainy 30 minute drive to Renwick in the middle of wine country.  As if on cue, the rain stopped when we were only two minutes from our b&b.  Olde Mill House had 15 steps up to the house through one of the prettiest gardens we've seen.  Robert and Diane (owners) greeted us and took us to our room with a view of the garden.  Once settled, they provided maps of the area, recommended activities and wineries, and places to eat.

We drove to Blenheim for dinner at Raupo and got a chance to see some of the wineries from the road, some which had sheep grazing amongst the wines.  Dinner was good and reminded us of restaurants in Napa.

Tomorrow we would get picked up on Bubbly Grape Tours and get a chance to sample some wines and see the area.