Today was my last touring day in New Zealand. Tomorrow morning I fly to Auckland (and stay at a hotel at the airport) and then Sunday morning I fly to Hobart, Tasmania, AU.
I've had an amazing time in NZ -- such a beautiful country with good food & wine -- and very nice people.
I spent most of today out at Abel Tasman National Park. It's NZ's only coastal national park -- and its smallest national park. There are no roads in the park -- you either walk or kayak. There are water taxis that take you to/from several bays in the park. I took a water taxi to Anchorage Bay -- and spent 4 hours there -- did a walk on part of the Coast Walk and took a swim (the water is cold -- but felt great after the walk). The walk was beautiful -- mostly wooded --- and very quiet -- only sounds were the ocean and the birds (tui & bellbird). I encountered only 2 people in 1.5 hours
There were a lot of kayakers -- you can get dropped off (water taxi) at one bay -- kayak to another bay and get picked up (based on their gear, many of them looked like they were on a multi-day trip).
The water taxi bit is rather cool -- you get towed out into the water while sitting on the boat. It was high tide when we returned -- so no need to be towed, dropped right off at the jetty.
On the way back to Nelson, I stopped in at my favorite place -- Rabbit Island. A bit windy there today -- so not great for reading -- but very good for walking.
I've enjoyed my stay in Nelson -- it's really a beautiful part of NZ. If I were doing this again -- I would spend a couple of days in Nelson -- and then the rest of the time out near Motueka.
Weather: gorgeous sunny skies, 55 - 75F
Miles Walked: 7.2
km Driven: 140
pic notes:
I've had an amazing time in NZ -- such a beautiful country with good food & wine -- and very nice people.
I spent most of today out at Abel Tasman National Park. It's NZ's only coastal national park -- and its smallest national park. There are no roads in the park -- you either walk or kayak. There are water taxis that take you to/from several bays in the park. I took a water taxi to Anchorage Bay -- and spent 4 hours there -- did a walk on part of the Coast Walk and took a swim (the water is cold -- but felt great after the walk). The walk was beautiful -- mostly wooded --- and very quiet -- only sounds were the ocean and the birds (tui & bellbird). I encountered only 2 people in 1.5 hours
There were a lot of kayakers -- you can get dropped off (water taxi) at one bay -- kayak to another bay and get picked up (based on their gear, many of them looked like they were on a multi-day trip).
The water taxi bit is rather cool -- you get towed out into the water while sitting on the boat. It was high tide when we returned -- so no need to be towed, dropped right off at the jetty.
On the way back to Nelson, I stopped in at my favorite place -- Rabbit Island. A bit windy there today -- so not great for reading -- but very good for walking.
I've enjoyed my stay in Nelson -- it's really a beautiful part of NZ. If I were doing this again -- I would spend a couple of days in Nelson -- and then the rest of the time out near Motueka.
Weather: gorgeous sunny skies, 55 - 75F
Miles Walked: 7.2
km Driven: 140
pic notes:
- bird pic -- I think it's a Shag -- whatever it is -- it's an amazing swimmer. The bird swims underwater for 30 seconds are so at a time -- very cool.
- the last 5 pics are Rabbit Island -- everything else is Abel Tasman
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