World Cruise 2013: Day 37 - Picton, New Zealand

World Cruise 2013

February 11, 2013

The ship arrived at Picton, New Zealand at 8:30 AM. Picton, originally called Waitohia is a pretty port at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound. It is a hive of activity when the ferry is in during the peak summer months and a rather slow, sleepy town at most other times.

I took a tour called "Marlborough Farm, Garden & Sheep Round-Up". The tour left the ship and drove through the wine region and stopped Upton Oaks for a visit to the English-inspired gaden of Dave and Sue Monahan. The manicured grounds feature brick walls, ponds, perennial borders and a 17 century-style Elizabethan garden. We had a snack and back on the bus we passed through Blenheim, the main town of the Marlborough region. Our next stop was at Barewood Farm, a real working sheep farm that also has been identified as a Garden of National Significance. 3,400 Corriedale sheep and 100 Angus beef cattle are raised here on 1,400 acres. We had a sheep dog demonstration and a sheep shearing demonstration. We walked up to the house to view their amazing garden and a country-style lunch on the lawn of Joe and Carolyn Ferraby. After leaving the farm we returned to the ship.
Below are some pictures from ship and my tour.

Below are some pictures taken from the ship and from my tour.

Picton, New Zealand - Taken from the ship coming in to the port

Picton, New Zealand - Taken on my tour

Marlborough Region, New Zealand - Taken on my tour

Marlborough Region, New Zealand - Taken on my tour at the stop at Upton Oaks

Marlborough Region, New Zealand - Taken on my tour at the stop at Upton Oaks of grape vines

Marlborough Region, New Zealand - Taken on my tour at the stop at Upton Oaks of a grape vine

Marlborough Region, New Zealand - Taken on my tour

Marlborough Region, New Zealand - Taken on my tour at a stop at Barewood Farm, a working sheep farm

Marlborough Region, New Zealand - Taken on my tour at a stop at Barewood Farm, a working sheep farm, Sheep Dogs

Marlborough Region, New Zealand - Taken on my tour at a stop at Barewood Farm, a working sheep farm, Sheep Dog

Marlborough Region, New Zealand - Taken on my tour at a stop at Barewood Farm, a working sheep farm

Marlborough Region, New Zealand - Taken on my tour at a stop at Barewood Farm, a working sheep farm. He is showing us the thickness of the wool on a Merino Sheep