Abel Tasman

Leaving Kaikoura we drove north towards the ferry passage where the content of our bus was split into seven people staying on the south island and the rest going on the ferry. Then we received a bus full of people traveling from north to south and together we continued to Kaiteriteri. 

Kaiteriteri lies at the southern end of the huge Abel Tasman National park and gives access to magnificent coastal hikes by sea shuttles and aqua taxies. We arrived quite late so all activities were booked for the coming 2,5 days that I was going to stay in Kaiteriteri. 

Day 1 started with a 14 km hike along the northern part of the coastline. Sailing into Torrent Bay we passed sun bathing seals and tumbling baby seals. We were dropped of and waded to shore in what can only be described as Robinson Crusoe-ish surroundings

 

From there it was up into the green mountains while slowly humming this

soundtrack. 

I will just let the pictures speak for them selves...

The path was generally nice but did have a surprise or two on top of the constant feeling that a velociraptor would stick its head out of the bush...

   

The end of the trek rewarded us with an almost endless golden beach and a powerboat trip home to Kaiteriteri. 

Day 2 was more hiking taking a short bus trip up to Marahau at the official start of the park working our way up to Anchorage Bay. The hike again included one panoramic view after another and an opportunity to see how the low tide two times a day leaves boats standing on their keel more than a kilometer from the coast. 

 

The way home was again by boat passing the split apple rock. 

Tomorrow its off to Westport, just after I complete a very fast and short trip..