Abel Tasman great walk

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Well after camping the night at Old MacDonalds farm (yes you wouldn't adam and eve it) we awoke early on the 14th to embark on the Abel Tasman great walk with slight trepidation! We loaded up with everything we could possible need for the next 4 days, then put some of it back in the van....

We were embarking on one of NZ's Great Walks and the weather was glorious, it really doesn't get much better than this. We were leaving from MaraHau going via Anchorage to Bark Bay where we were to sleep in a series of shared huts. First off a causeway traverses an estuary and it is soon clear the tidal nature of this walk. Past Tinline Bay, we turn inland at Yellow point winding in and out of small gullies whilst having much better coastal access than on the Queen Charlotte track. From Anchorage Bay, we crossed a low ridge to Torrent Bay estuary. The estuary can be crossed within two hours either side of low tide.
At the northern end of Torrent Bay beach the track climbs through pine trees. The track sidles around two valleys and above a beautiful inlet to Falls River, the biggest river in the park. This is crossed by a 47 metre long suspension bridge. Beyond the river, the track climbs before dropping back to the sea. All in all a 7 hour walk we were cream crackered but looking forwards to a cosy night in a hut. Little did we know that we had the noisiest Germans in NZ who kept us awake for hours. When they finally settled down Lisa was dozing off when a guy from South Korea came in at about 11pm and fell over everybodys gear, then snored the whole night!!!!

Later speaking with him we actually felt quite sorry for him, he said he had stopped for a swift cigarrette and left his wallet/passport on the beach and only realised 2 hrs later. Then after walking back it had gone so he had walked for 10 hours in total. He said he had almost died 3 times which was quite funny, the other time was when he climbed NZ's highest peak in a t-shirt and shorts where he said he nearly froze to death and couldnt move his fingers...lol The other time was when he span in 360's on a clifftop road after meeting some Europeans on the wrong side of the road.... we kind of forgave him the snoring and figured he would be lucky to make it out of NZ at all.

The following moring we crossed Bark Bay estuary to the shore at Tonga Quarry, where blocks of granite remain from an old quarrying operation (hard graft!). We then climbed over Tonga Saddle and descended to Awaroa Inlet. We followed the shore for 15 minutes to Awaroa Hut, albeit via the Holiday Park for a vastly overpriced beer (Stella Artois belive me it wasnt reassuringly expensive but it was nice!). This hut was bound to be different, it was certainly beautiful! A nice quiet Kiwi family shared our room, apart from the motor mouth mother who was giggling and talking for hours.....her teenager daughter told her to shut the hell up which was most amusing, she was like an overgrown brownie.... Lisa got eaten by Sand Flies but I reassured her by telling her they weren't as big as the ones on the West Coast (caring I know).

We got a lie in until 6am the following day to make the low tide crossing. Awaroa Estuary can only be crossed close to low tide so its good that Lisa left her walking boots at the hut, I helped again by LMAO and taking pictures (see attached) as she sprinted across the estuary. Well what could I do I could hardly miss out on breakfast.. From its northern side the track crossed a low saddle and droped to Waiharakeke Bay, where a timber mill once operated. We took the longer walk out via Mutton Cove (Lisa particularly wanted to do that one) and Seperation Point where we did not see any seals but the view was magnificent.

The track re-entered the forest and emerged at Goat Bay, from where it climbs to a lookout above Skinner Point before descending to Totaranui. Whilst admiring the view at Skinners Point and the tranquility of it all 70 people from a cruise ship were escorted up, back to reality....eh! Speaking with a woman she mentioned they were one of the first cruises allowed into the park, surely missing the point????....DOC have sold out on this one. This was the most scenic day on the trek and also our hut at Whariwarangi was a lovely converted homestead that was really comfortable. A short 2 hour walk the following day took us to the car park and our bus, heading back into Motueka felt like going back to the big smoke such was the feeling of remoteness on the trek, where did all these people come from.

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