KEY POINTS:
What: The Interislander ferry journey, which takes passengers through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds into Picton from Wellington, has been described as one of the most spectacular in the world. The 92km voyage takes three hours and there are as many as 11 sailings a day on the ferries, Arahura, Aratere or Kaitaki.
Things to do: Being able to drive your car on and off the ferry means an Interislander trip across Cook Strait is an easy way to extend a holiday to Wellington or Marlborough. There's plenty of action to keep you occupied during the journey. The ferries have bars and restaurants, cinemas, video games, kids' play areas, and school holiday programmes - making it a great way to travel with the family.
What's on: At each end of the journey, Wellington and Marlborough are packed to the brim with things to keep you busy on a weekend break. If you're headed south in the next few weeks, the Marlborough Sounds festival is on from September 26 to Labour Weekend, October 27, including a huge array of food, wine, arts, and adventure events.
Highlights include the Water and Wilderness Weekend on the last weekend of September with Sounds cruises and wine tastings; the Sounds Seafood School, October 10 to 12; Sounds Creative arts weekend, October 17 to 19; and Spring in the Sounds, including fishing, biking, wine and food tours. Visit www.marlboroughsoundsfestival.co.nz
Wellington, meanwhile, is gearing up for the annual and spectacular World of Wearable Arts season, - marking it's 20th year in 2008 - to be held September 26 to October 5.
Elsewhere in the capital, Te Papa will open its interactive OurSpace studio on September 27. This permanent installation includes The Wall, an 18m projection screen which makes a giant artistic canvas and graffiti wall; two motion rides, The High Ride and The Deep; and The Map; a huge satellite picture of New Zealand on an interactive glass floor which is linked to media walls. As you move across the map, images are triggered on the walls.
