We had sun, rain, gale force winds and then serene calm and blue skies as we crossed the Cook Strait and then went through Queen Charlotte Sound to Picton on the South Island.
Last night we caught up with Ian and Alison from Makara of Exe, who sailed on the World ARC with us last year. They live in a piece of paradise up the Wairu Valley, with horses, a 2 week old foal, deer, cats and dogs and made us hugely welcome.
Today we are taking the 200km gravel Acheron road up to Molesworth station at 1300m, and on down to Hanmer Springs tomorrow .