Blogs from Abel Tasman National Park, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 42

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It started on the ferry boat from Wellington on the North Island and ended five days later. After scaring a large group of kiwi yogis with my American teaching, we went South in high seas. Wine tasting in Marlbourough only numbed it and Dramamine made it worse. But the one thing that did work...bourbon, sun and four days kayking and hiking in the Abel Tasman National Park. Whatever means of transportation you can find, there is always a way to wade, hike or paddle through the densly thick forest or secluded sandy coves of the South Island. We hired a kayak and paddled through tidal lagoons, navigating around small islands, and at one point becoming a playmate to a few friendly seals. On the second day, we noticed two dark fronts converging over the ocean. We ... read more
Playful seal
Water taxi
Moon rise


Trying to think of a catchy title can sometimes be the biggest stump of all in writing these blogs. Although this entries´ title doesn´t create a glamorous image, it is the truth. I never meant to be behind the wheel with so many splats behind me, it just worked out that way. Really I´m trying to help out the New Zealand conservation department as the possum population is a very significant problem for the rest of the wildlife, most importantly, the national symbol of New Zealand, the flightless kiwi bird. In fact, I even passed one tourist attraction that made everything on site from possums...possum pie, possum stew, possum rugs sweaters and hats. If only I´d known about them before, I could have brought along all of my road victims for a discount. Well really I ... read more
Blowhole
Beach On Way to Pancakes
Not a Kiwi


Up at 8am to pack gear ready for 9am crossing of the estuary at low tide. Going from Awaroa to Whariwharangi on a teeny weeny 4 and a half hour trek! Plus 30 minute sprint to Separation Point for the aiki idiot!... read more
Leaving Awaroa 2
Looking back across the estuary
Koru fern


From Bark Bay to Awaroa - a mere 5 hours hike!... read more
The high tide track
Another waterfall on the track
Still smiling


This is the big one folks! We slimmed down our backpacks as much as pos 'cos from here on in we would be carrying everything on our backs over 4 days! As for the views, what can I say..........Oh dear, not another gorgeous paradise beach all to ourselves??................. read more
Beginning at Marahau
Beginning at Marahau 2
First sight of the sea


Well, we completed the hike, and rounded it off with a knackering day of kayaking in any out of the coves and caves, back to Kaiteriteri. It's good to be back at Palace Backpackers though, it's really homely and full of a wide range of travelling freaks - I'm sure that the guy sitting outside strumming a guitar is either Simon or Garfunkle - he's got a old green cord jacket, beret and curly hair and not a bad voice! Lucikly Walter was waiting for us where we'd left him and our stuff was still in the boot. I suppose I should stop judging NZ by England's standards, it does seem much safer here.... read more
Abel Tasman Hike & Kayak
Abel Tasman Hike & Kayak
Abel Tasman Hike & Kayak


The aqua-taxi has just dropped us off on a completely deserted beach, the hour-long journey along the coast took us past a pod of gorgeous Dusky Dolphins, includeing a wee bab only half a meter long jumping and flipping over the waves. I even saw my first Blue Penguin tobogganing slowly across the water! We've only got a 4 hour hike to do today, so we can take it slow, which is lucky, since our packs weigh so much! We just have to time it right, since there's a rather large tidal crossing to circumnavigate and although we have a 4 hour window, I dont fancy missing it and having to wade through, holding my 10 tonne pack above my head. 9:00pm The tramp around the coast was less challenging than we'd imagined, although the tidal ... read more


24.10.- 26.10.2005 - posledna navsteva Christchurchu (3 dni) V Christchurchi sme konecne zocili novy prirastok v rodine Kuzielovcov - malu, krasnu kiwacku Vivien. S takouto kompletnou rodinkou sme isli na vikendovu prechadzku do okolia Christchurchu a opat sme objavili niekolko krasnych zatok, ktore boli plne plachtiacich lodiciek a kanojkujucich christchurcanov. Vecer sme prisli do domceku, v ktorom byva Darren (nas kamarat z ladovca) a uz nas tam cakalo rozvoniavajuce barbecue za ktorym sa kucharsky obracal Duncan. Takto sme si vsetci spolu zaspominali na ladovcove chvile a na druhe rano sme sa s Darrenom vybrali liezt na nedaleku skalu s nadhernym vyhladom na Christchurch. Na nase velke prekvapenie vsak bola uplne neodistena a tak sme si pod skusenym dohladom Darrena vyskusali liezt na friendoch a vklinencoch. Tato skalka je len jednou z dalsich asi 12 skal v ... read more
Abel Tasman
Abel Tasman
Zaliv pocas odlivu


Here we are again, back at the pc to tell you tales of our wonderful relaxing time etc etc. We think the last you got was us in Queenstown. Now that was some time ago and so much has happened since ... From Queenstown we went up to arrowtown and looked at restored chinese settlement (v interesting) and bought some v nice homemade fudge. and had a gourmet pie - we are now pie fanatics (as is all NZ)! from there went to glenorchy where a lot of LOTR was filmed. as you can imagine v nice scenery. we tried to get to paradise but the road was inhospitable for the van! we then went to mount aspiring NP and did the first day of the famous routeburn track and back (so 2 days if you ... read more


- FOOD: Some damn fine pub grub. - AREA: Pretty coastal walk in Abel Tasman National Park. Watching a cow (almost) give birth. - PEOPLE: Sweet local boys but awful chat up lines. A man telling us off for our highly illegal parking. No-one but us and some oyster catcher birds in the park. - WEATHER: Singing in the rain... and the mist... and the wind. Oh, and the sun eventually. Thur 11th Aug: After 3 hours on the ferry we arrived at Picton where we found the nearest car park and slept more. It was raining heavily as we drove up to Nelson and didn't stop when we got there so we hung out for a while and then went onto Takeka, in the Abel Tasman National Park via the gorgeous coastline which we didn't ... read more
Cool trees
The old married couple
More beautiful coastline




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