After catching brekkie in town we saddled up to ride our final day on the South Island. But first we went to relax and toss the rugby ball around at one of Tasman Bay’s many beautiful beaches. Around midday we took off and as Nelson faded away behind us and we went deeper into the countryside, we barely caught a glimpse of some cliff jumping going on when we rumbled across a bridge. We did a quick stop and U-turn to check out the location. We learned this was a popular swimming hole under the Pelorus Bridge and we had a fun diving session before some bite-happy flies got the better of us and we retreated back to our bikes. It was a great riding break, getting a few jumps and flips into the Pelorus River.
Rugby ball was a great item to bring, many catches, kicks, and tosses.
We three motorbikers hooked left off of Highway 6 and onto Queen Charlotte Road to complete the route to Picton. This was probably the most fun paved road from the whole trip because it had endless curves and switchbacks as it hugged the Glen Arm of the Marlborough Sounds. On a couple turns I could lean far enough over that I’d scrape a pannier on the road! We stopped at an overlook which had a view of a huge logging yard to the West and then the Walmahara Wharf and Picton. to the East. We arrived to the city center and looped around the main road before parking and beginning the search for a place to eat. We also hopped on some WiFi and found that everything in town was completely booked up which was an issue because our ferry departed early the next day. We caught word that there was an RV park just outisde of town so we sprinted over there and snagged one of the last spots. It was a silly site to see three motorbikes and tents in the middle of a sea of RVs and campers. Then it was a ride back to town to eat and the final leg of the day back to the RV park.
When biking, seeing these signs are the best.
Logging yard from a lookout point for Shakespeare Bay.
Walmahara Wharf in the city of Picton.
We looked a bit out of place.
We had an early start to get packed up and make yet another ride to Picton. We grabbed some meat pies for breakfast and ate them while sitting in line to drive aboard the ferry. It was a massive vessel capable of carrying 1,350 passengers, dozens of cars, and is equipped with viewing decks, a restaurant, and movies playing for the 3.5 hour trip. It was a cloudy and dreary day but sailing out of the Marlborough Sounds, across the Cook Straight, and wrapping around the peninsula pinching off Wellington Harbor was absolutely gorgeous. Farewell South Island and thanks for all the memories!
Strapping down the bikes for the voyage to the North Island.
Farewell South Island and thanks for all the memories!