Another early start, another day of travelling….

Alarm call at 6am, out of the motel by 6.15am, at the Picton ferry terminal by 6.30am and on to the ferry by 7am.

Before leaving Picton, Michelle had already taken up the fetal position and was asleep dreaming of being back in her bed!!

We left Picton and the South Island in a blaze of sunshine and started the 4hr cruise back across the Straits to Wellington. It’s fair to say it was an ideal sailing day, not a cloud in the sky and just a light wind pushing us along.

We left the Tory Channel and headed across the waters to Cape Terawhiti and on to Sinclair Head into Wellington Harbour.

After the 4hr cruise we then had a different 4hr driving ‘cruise’ up through the centre of the North Island via Palmerston North to the East Coast and the port city of Napier, the Art Deco capital of the Southern Hemisphere.

After checking into our latest Airbnb, this time a funky city centre serviced apartment, we went for a wander around the centre of Napier to check out the art deco architecture and the beach area.

Not only is Napier blessed with wonderful Art Deco buildings it is also home to Hunters Bay and more fantastic wines!

Being such a sunny and warm late afternoon we decided to take a stroll along the seafront. Whilst the beach wasn’t that appealing, lacking the customary white sandy shores, it did have an array of architectural features for the young and the old making it feel more homely and inviting.

We spent a good hour or two taking in the amazing designs along the water front, both current and the older art deco style, as well as sea life murals that were emblazoned on the various buildings facing the ocean.

We found a good place for dinner in the early evening and sat out alfresco style enjoying one of the many city centre parks in Napier.

Tomorrow looks like being another glorious sunny day, so we plan to enjoy the great outdoors with a visit to the local weekend market, as well as a wander to the seaside suburb of Ahuriri, awash with trendy cafes, art galleries, boutique shops and a lively harbour area.