This is Akhil, giving the basic travel log from an internet cafe in Nelson. From Turangi down to Wellington... Basically very green and covered in sheep, but quite beautiful. Wellington is quite nice, and looks a lot like San Francisco (I know they say this, but it's true!) Stayed in a nice place just north of town in Plimmerton on the water - we could hear the waves crashing onshore from our room. The next day took the ferry across to Picton and stayed the night. Hiked the last leg of the Queen Charlotte track as a day hike on a beautiful sunny day. Then off to Nelson in the car. Windy road along the coastline - more cows, more sheep! Today, we're off to the West Coast to find, amongst other things, seals! Now Shannon will elaborate...

The Queen Charlotte track (they call trails "Tracks" here) was in the Marlborough Sounds - a very picturesque area just off the ferry at Picton. They'll take you by boat to the portion of the track you want to walk - so you get a nice cruise in the sounds that way in addition to your hike. And believe it or not - we ran into some friends from Boston in Picton! Very very small world (and even smaller country).

Here we are in Hokitika on the South Island's west coast, after a tiring day on the road: