Spent a couple of days exploring the Wellington waterfront and downtown as well as visiting the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Wellington from Mt. Victoria

Ah, Wellington! A nice rest stop after a pretty intense previous week. A nice morning walk/hike to the peak of Mt. Victoria for an overview of Wellington.

Fountain in Wellington Harbour

Wellington skyline at dusk

It's "starting" to feel a bit like Christmas

Overheard a couple of women walking by, "Wouldn't it be awkward to have put a lock on here with a boyfriend and then come by months later with a different boyfriend" ... Bolt cutters anyone?

As I boarded the interisland ferry, saw this cruise ship and how it dwarfs "normal" ships

Interisland ferry from Wellington to Picton, a water taxi to Waterfall Cove, a car to cross over to Kenepuru Sound and finally a boat to cross the sound to Double Bay and my lodging!

My "ride" to the south Island. A 3-1/2 hr trip that I guess can get pretty exciting when the seas act up ... mine was a smooth, uneventful passage.

This was the "sunset" on my first night at Double Bay ... a bit ominous?

Sunrise at Double Bay

My first morning at Double Bay treated me to this mirrored sea and gorgeous sky. Made getting up at 5am all worthwhile!

Same morning -- mirrored seas and wonderful color in the sky ... along with the NZ green!

An hour later, a completely different feel as the color disappeared with the sunrise ...

A view of Kenepuru Sound from Mt. Raetihi. Native manuka in the lower center of the frame.

Manuka -- known at NZ's Christmas Tree blooms right around Christmas time and is the source of NZ's famous Manuka honey.

NZ Pied Shag or Pied Cormorant

Pair of NZ Pied Shags (Cormorants)

New ferns unfurling ...

Wikipedia - The koru (Māori for "loop") is a spiral shape based on the appearance of a new unfurling silver fern frond. It is an integral symbol in Māori art, carving and tattooing, where it symbolises new life, growth, strength and peace. Its shape "conveys the idea of perpetual movement," while the inner coil "suggests returning to the point of origin".

A "typical" NZ "forrest" ... so different from my Pacific Northwest concept of "forrest"

Evening sky my 3rd night at Double Bay