We got an early start this morning and left the Capitol View Motor Inn at about 6:30 am. We had to wake the manager to return our key because the instructions in the booklet said to leave the key at the counter or be charged for it. Unfortunately, the elevator to the first floor was locked out so we had to go down an outside stairway from the first floor and there was no key drop box or way to get to the counter. Earline rang the bell and got the manager up. He said we could have just left the key in the room but without knowing this, we felt good about waking him. Maybe in the future they will say this in the room instructions. :)
The streets were pretty empty at this time of the morning and I located a petrol station to fill up the rental car before dropping it off at the Interislander Terminal. It was unclear where we were to drop off the vehicle key until we got inside the Interislander Passenger Terminal. There is a large blue box that says rental car drop box. You need to take your GPS with you to the next rental car pick-up.
Check-in for the Interislander Ferry is much like an airport. You check your luggage, get a luggage receipt and retrieve it at the exit point. We chose to purchase Premium Plus Lounge access that gives you a child-free environment, free internet (300 Mb data), comfortable lounge chairs, a free hot breakfast and free coffees, teas and wines. It is worth the $45 NZD. Crossing takes 3.5 hours and we will obtain a new Avis rental car in Picton.
After getting a new car, we drove to Kaikoura, a 2 hour drive from Picton, to stay at the Kaikoura Boutique Hotel. This is a nice place to stay with a tastefully decorated room and outside courtyard. We ate dinner at the Whaler in town and the meals of Porterhouse Steak and Fish and Chips had generous portions at reasonable prices. We went to bed by 9 pm because in the morning, we have a 7 hour drive to Dunedin.
Here are some of the sights you see in driving from Picton to Kaikoura.
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| Lots of vineyards |
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| Ocean View |
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| Kaikoura Borique Hotel |
This Norfolk Pines are not native to New Zealand but were planted in the early 1900's.
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| Norfolk Pines |
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| Kaikoura Borique Hotel |
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| koura Borique Hotel |
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| Kaikoura |
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