It appears the city designers were reluctant to have visitors reach the InterIsland Ferry Terminal (to escape presumably), so they cunningly located it underneath a motorway in a gritty working port area - genius. We were rewarded with fresh coffee upon reaching the terminal, and things started looking up.
The trip to Picton via ferry was surprisingly smooth and we were joined by a large pod of dolphins at one point. It was rather satisfying making progress towards our destination without having to be behind the wheel, and the kiddies certainly made the most of the ample deckspace...
Picton was a beautiful looking town, and we regretfully left it after picking up our new hire car and grabbing a bite to eat. We headed south east and hit the east coast of the South Island. With the parental conversation in the front of the car becoming distinctly one-sided (I can only talk to myself for so long), we decided to stop at a seaside coffee house to wake Jen up a little. There was a bitterly-cold wind coming off the steel-grey Pacific, but the view was outstanding. 
Mr Hamish was a tad grumpy upon our return to the car (he wanted to get into the car first), and so went and slumped on a picnic table chair. I couldn't resist the image, so took a quick shot of him mid-sulk.
As we approached Kaikoura, the enormous mountain range drew ever nearer to the coast we were travelling along. At one point, there was not enough room to fit both a road and a railway line between the beach and an escarpment, so the rail had to tunnel through the rock. We also discovered some seals lazing about the place, including some baby ones (aww). Kaikoura is one of those places where you can see the ocean beyond some lush green grass with sheep grazing, and behind you some majestic mountains rise up into the clouds. Hard to take indeed.
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