Insignia sneaked up to Picton at the end of the Queen Charlotte Sound before sunrise …

… then gradually, a gorgeous crisp autumn morning greeted us in the little town …

… so it was off in our rental car for a tour of the Marlborough Sounds. (Jan complaining again about leaving her gloves on the ship!)

But that was soon forgotten as the scene unfolded … a postcard around every corner.

How’s the serenity here?

It’s no wonder the Kiwis can grow stuff … you could grow anything in this lush countryside …

And what about this secluded gem: Mistletoe Bay?

But wait … there’s good wine in these parts, says Jan … so it was on to a deli lunch at Giesen … here we admired how well they keep the grass in the vineyards and Jan came away with two souvenirs!!!

Then on to Cloudy Bay …

… and so it was through prosperous looking Blenheim and back to Picton, where it seems everyone must own a boat!! … we would too if we lived with this water wonderland at the front door.

Then back along the Sound and off to Napier …

Marlborough in a day? Hmmm … you could relax here for a week, or a month, or maybe even more!