South to North...

Another wonderful ferry trip through the Marlborough Sounds and across the Cook Strait- don't think I'd ever get tired of this boat trip- then hammered up State Highway 1 (two lanes in some places!) with a quick stop at a farm to feed some deer- then somewhat further north we rounded a bend to see Mt Ruapehu rising up ahead and for a while- before clouds descended- we could see its snow clad summit. We camped at Ohakune at the foot of the mountain and looked forward to a beautiful view and maybe a walk in the morning BUT when we woke we could hear rain drumming on the roof. So stayed in bed a bit longer than usual, then drove to the 'base camp' (which in the winter is a ski resort) and it was FREEZING! and lots of warnings at the visitors' centre about hypothermia and drastic weather conditions- so we didn't bother going for a walk and hit the road again. We had a lovely drive up through 'King Country' which we've decided is our favourite landscape and stopped for a picnic and vertiginous climb up a knobbly hill to a memorial to a missionary called 'Miller'! Apparently he had back scruffy hair with a curl on his forehead. Although the Maori called him Mira 'cos they couldn't say it properly.
Arrived in Hamilton at tea time, a really nice leafy university city, but feels like we're just passing through- which of course we are... Feeling a bit sad and end of holidayish 'cos we've 'only' got a week left and we have to say bye to the campervan tomorrow (a mixed blessing- we have enjoyed it a lot but R's back is a bit achy) but we're really looking forward to the Coromandel and a change of pace.