New Zealand, Day Six, Marlborough Wine Country, Nelson and Return to North Island

We left the Omaka Classic Fighters Air Show around noon, before it ended at four pm today, but not before touring the "Knights of the Sky Exhibit" at the Omaka Heritage Center. Sir Peter Jackson, the Kiwi of "Lord of the Rings" fame has invested heavily in the Heritage Center and owns several classic aircraft.  He lent his expertise to creating sensational dioramas of aircraft from the great war including a scene depicting Baron Von Richtoven's demise.  On  display in the museum is Eddie Rickenbacker's flight suit (America's First Flying Ace) and a section of The Red Baron's Fokker Tri-plane depicting the black cross.
Before leaving, we were able to catch the simulated dogfight of classic warbirds from WWI that included every flyable vintage aircraft on hand.  I was especially excited to see the beautiful Albatross flying.
We drove into Blenheim and had lunch at Dodson Street Beer Garden, which is right next door to the Renaissance Brewing Company, brewers of some of the best beer I have ever tasted.  We met the brewers/owners Andy and Brian, two San Diego transplants now living  in New Zealand, at the Air Show.  They were official sponsors and were serving up their great beer at there.  We quickly hit it off with them and spent a good amount of time at their beer tent.

Marlborough Wine Country

 After lunch we were off through vineyard alley (mine name), highway 62 en route to Nelson, a beautiful town on Tasman bay on the west side of South Island. This stretch of highway was literally, wall to wall vineyards, producing New Zealand's best wines.  Unfortunately, there are only three days in NZ when you can't buy alcohol, Christmas, Good Friday and today, Easter.  I did taste a delicious Chardonnay and plan to buy some in the market tomorrow.  Arriving in Nelson, a really lovely town on Tasman Bay, we were surprised to discover a beautiful walking trail that led to the "Geographic Center of NZ."  Naturally, it was at the summit of a very steep hill accessible by a well worn trail with switchbacks because of the steepness.  We definitely got our exercise this day.  At the summit was the marker and the views were fantastic. 
After walking back down and through a beautiful garden (Queen's Garden) and the downtown area, we set off again, backtracking our route and stopping at the Mussel Pot for dinner in Havelock, which is home to the mussel farms of NZ where they grow green-lipped mussels year round.  These mussels are big, meaty and delicious.
We are now aboard the Arahura, the Inter Island ferry on our way back to North Island and Wellington (NZ's capitol) where we will sleep and head out again.

Grilled Green-lipped Mussels

Diorama depicting The Red Baron's Death in the "Knights of the Sky" exhibit



My new friends, Brian Theil and Andy Deuchars, brewers and owners of Renaissance Brewing Company



The original Black Cross from the Red Baron's crashed Red Tri-plane 

Simulated dogfight of WWI era aircraft

The Beautiful Albatross in flight.

The Mussel Pot in Havelock where the Green Lipped Mussel is aqua farmed

A plaque under the marker at the geographical center of New Zealand in Nelson

The marker atop the hill depicting the geographical center of NZ

Outstanding view of Nelson and Tasman Bay

A close up of the ubiquitous fern of NZ, this and the kiwi are their national symbols.



Provincial Museum



Lovely downtown Nelson

 

Eddie Rickenbacker's flight suit