Heading South!

After my time up in the Far North, I started to head south…in the rain!

My first stop was the town of Taupo.  It sits on a lake of the same name and has beautiful mountains in the background.  I got to see them on my second day when the skies finally cleared…briefly.

After Taupo I headed to Hawkes Bay.  The drive was through some beautiful countryside that really did look like Middle Earth.

Hawkes Bay is New Zealand’s produce bowl.  Seems just about everything grows here…including grapes.   The countryside is stunning with shades of green that seem impossible.  And, it wouldn’t be New Zealand without sheep.

There are a number of good wineries here.  After going up to the tallest peak (Te Mata) to take in the view, I visited a couple of wineries.  Craggy Range is particularly good, so if you see any in a store near you, pick it up.

 

Tomorrow, I head farther south to Wellington where I will spend the night and catch the early morning ferry across Cook Straight to Picton.  From there I will drive on to Nelson to spend the night.

I will still be driving after Nelson with a final destination of Franz Josef Glacier where I will stay for a couple of days.  So, don’t worry or think you have been unsubscribed to the blog if you don’t see a post for a while.

I leave you, for now, with cows at the vineyard.