On Wednesday we woke early and drove to Picton to catch the inter-islander for the 3 hour ferry ride across to the north island.
We arrived in Wellington in the early afternoon with enough time to take the cable car up to the top of the city.
View from the top.
We then meandered our way down through the botanical gardens. Eric was on a mission to find the silver fern. The silver fern is as much a symbol of New Zealand as the kiwi, used by both the national rugby team, the Blacks, and the military.
It has a shiny silver underside that reflects the moonlight, which the Maoris used to find their way through the bush at night. To Māori, the elegant shape of the fronds stood for strength, stubborn resistance, and enduring power. To Pākehā (New Zealanders of non-Māori descent), the fern symbolized their sense of attachment to their homeland.
Found!
The gardens were magnificent. We certainly picked the right time of year to visit.
Jo & Eric's travels 