6 October Picton

Thursday 6 October

Today we are across the Cook Strait in Picton, South Island. I had put together a self drive tour of the wine region which also included a visit to the Makana Chocolate shop and the Vines Village which had been recommended as places to visit. 

View from our cabin, of Shakespeare Bay where we are docked in Picton

The Vines Village is in a lovely location near Blenheim

The day started out a little cool

This, of course, is wine country

View of part of Brancott Estate

Inside the visitor centre at Brancott Estate

When the vines were originally planted the straight lines were lined up with a rifle eye sight

 After a drive to Brancott Estate to take in the view and sample a couple of their basic wines, we headed for Allan Scott for lunch.

This was certainly a wonderful place to while away an hour or so over fabulous food. The seafood chowder was simply amazing and the other meals looked just as good. The surroundings were lovely with very attractive gardens. A fine finish to our last port stop.

Lunch at Allan Scott Wines

The wine region in the Marlborough is very pretty

The send of by the Picton locals. Cruise ship visits are a big deal for these small towns

 We had arranged to get together with Jim and Anita and Tracy to watch our sail out of the Queen Charlotte Sound into the Cook Strait, just to celebrate our last port day.

Leaving Queen Charlotte Sound

The pilot has done his job

Sydney here we come