This weekend I was supposed to be in Queenstown at the PSNZ National Convention. Unfortunately circumstances prevented me from attending, but it got me thinking this morning about the last time I was in the South Island at a National Convention a couple of years ago. It was hosted in Blenheim and my favourite image of the entire weekend was the sunrise at the wreck of the Waverley. I ruined a pair of expensive runners walking through flood water to get there but it was more than worth it!
National Conventions always have the best field trips and the one I took to the Marlborough Sounds was perfect. I won’t go into detail because I have blogged about it in the past but these images never got processed so I don’t mind posting them now. Being on a small boat in from of a large ferry was kind of weird. You don’t normally get to see the big boats from this angle. This one is the Stena Alegra.
We had dolphins swimming alongside the boat and jumping up around us. I had the wrong lens on and no time to change, so I had to focus on the ones a little further away. We also passed gulls in a feeding frenzy which I just couldn’t resist photographing. 
The last image is of the pine trees which our skipper told us were being poisoned to allow the native bush to regenerate and take over. By now I imagine these trees have already fallen. I am disappointed that I am not in Queenstown enjoying all the Autumn colours but all going well I will make it to the next Nation which is being held in Auckland next year.