We bid farewell the Central Plateau and continued through the lush farmland of the lower North Island, before following the Kapiti Coast to arrive in Wellington, the capital and second largest city. It’s a beautiful city, and the hills and chilly air reminded me of San Francisco, only smaller.

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We boarded the Interislander Ferry for our cruise from the North Island to Picton, in the South Island. This is the most popular ferry route in New Zealand, and there’s a lot to see on the way, including the Kaikoura ranges and wildlife. My wish to see Orcas didn’t come true, but we did get to see some dolphins.