on the move: New Zealand (stray)

NEW ZEALAND
Abel Tasman
5th - 8th Nov

There is a non travel day built into the stray itinerary (so you have to spend 2 nights) at the Abel Tasman National Park. It sounded like a good place to chill out so I decided to hop off here for 4 days. Fortunately a group of 5 who already know each other have the same idea and I join their group. A friendly bunch of 3 Germans, 1 Swiss and a Canadian. We stay at Old MacDonalds ($27pn)farm for 2 nights and then find a cheaper place down the road at The Barn ($20pn).

We arrive late Monday quite tired and have an earlyish night. Tuesday we go for a 23.6 km walk along the edge of the National Park along the coast. Very nice scenic walk although my leg ached the next day. Our stray driver Seagull (they all have odd names) cooks us mussells as a post dinner snack. Wednesday we get up early to go sea kayaking but we are too late so we walk to a beach and relax in the sun. In the evening I waste 2 hours of my life watching Notting Hill. Thursday is kayaking the 6 of us have tandem kayaks; we go to Fisherman Island and Adele Island. Not only do we kayak past a seal but on Fisherman Island there is a seal relaxing in the sun. We spend a couple of hours here before heading back through the choppy sea. Friday we leave Abel Tasman for Punakaiki.

below: entering Abel Tasman

below: the typical scene when walking along the path that hugged the coast

below: destination reached. 11.8km later and we are at Anchorage.

below: Adele Island and Fisherman Island

below: accommodation at Old McDonalds. 4 bed huts. They look a bit naff but the heating was spot on.

below: mussells

below: Marie from Cologne toasts a marshmallow

below: the next day. Our walk to the beach.

below: new accommodation. $7 cheaper a night with a lot better facilities and friendlier people. We had unlimited blankets so being cold in the tent wasn't a problem.