South island ~ Nelson

Nelson - It looked like a small size of Wellington : )

Transport: Nakedbus (Blenheim - Nelson)


Finally I bought the 15 trips bus pass from Nakedbus on average of NZD15 per trip (also known as “Naked Passport”), it's easy to use and irregardless where you go, as long as no same routes are repeated. It definitely a much more cheaper way to travel New Zealand.

Website: http://nakedbus.com/nz/passport/

Accommodation: Accents on the Park (BBH)

Accents on the Park backpacker hostel

I stayed here for only two days as not much attraction in Central Nelson. It took me about 20 minutes walk from Nakedbus bus stop to the hostel. By wandering around the central city, I can understand why it is hailed as one of New Zealand’s most “liveable” cities. Plenty of local and international tourists & young backpackers in the central city.




打开房门时凌乱拥挤的房间真的吓了我一跳。衣服，零食，还有一些瓶瓶罐罐的东西满地都是。五个来自德国的女生都是在Auckland做Au-pair的，一起来这里旅行。睡在我下铺的那位还在自己的床上晒起一堆衣服和内衣裤，太豪迈了。重点是她晚上没有“收衣”就直接睡在一堆衣服下面，好强!


What I have done:
(a) Nelson Market located at Montgomery Sq [Sat 8am-1pm]

A guy is playing piano at a corner of the market : )

Many interesting art crafts & local creations can be found here. I bought my scarf at only NZD10. It was much more bigger than I thought! I also enjoy my breakfast here at a reasonable price and I love the lively atmosphere here : )

(b) Jens Hansen (320, Trafalgar Sq)
The “Lord of the Ring” jeweller.

(c)  Christ Church Cathedral [admission free]
Opening hour: Nov-Mar :8am-7pm, Apr-Oct :8am-5pm

The church just located beside my hostel. It is quite easy to spot in the city.

(d) Botanical Reserve (Milton St)

Follow the road sign and climb up the hill, you will see the place proclaimed it the “Centre of New Zealand”. The view up there was beautiful and I have a rest here for almost 4 hours.

 There were some group of elderly, young students, families, singles came here for a while, then left.

Only me and a couple there for few hours (are they actually waiting me to go first?! Maybe I have spoilt their romance there :P)

Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry

Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry

It’s time to go south island! There are only two ferries across the cook strait, one is Interislander (more expensive), another is Bluebridge.

Website: https://www.interislander.co.nz/
               https://www.bluebridge.co.nz/

Transport:

(a) Wellington to Picton : Ferry fare: NZD51 one way

My ferry departed on 8.00am,Sunday at Wellington. Each passenger can carry only one hand luggage plus one handbag on board. The check-in luggage allowance permits up to a maximum of two bags (up to 30kg per bag) per passenger. I checked in my trolley luggage and one small backpack.

Remember to write down your name on the baggage tag provided by the service counter on every luggage to check in.

I walked for 35 minutes from Base Wellington to Bluebridge check-in office with all my luggage and backpack. It was not that tough as I imagined. At first I planned to catch a bus on 7.00am (I thought it will make my life easier), but not even one bus passed by the bus stop after 30 minutes! I started to feel nervous! The lucky thing was I came out from the hostel 20 minutes earlier, that’s why I had enough time to walk.

It is always an advantage to reach your destination “earlier” than “on time” because you will never know what will happen on the road!

船上有个蛮大的平台让乘客可以欣赏沿途景色。

风比想象中的还更吓人。长头发的女生不想一秒变贞子的话最好绑起头发呀。

虽然冷风让我直流鼻水，可是那壮丽的山脉景色就是让人不想移开视线啦！不管了，三个小时的旅程我就是要坐在外面吹冷风！好期待南岛 ：）


(b) Picton to Blenheim : Intercity bus (http://www.intercity.co.nz/)

After I picked up my luggage, there is a free bus waiting outside to take all passengers to the nearest bus station. When I arrived, Intercity bus already there. This was the first time I travelled with Intercity. It departed on time at 1.35pm heading to Blenheim.



I was thinking to have my Christmas in Wellington, but due to the work exchange for accommodation in Blenheim, ended up I went to south island much earlier !