Monaco Nelson

... from the other guys and stuck 15 km from the nearest town. So we started walking.

We decided we would try to hitch, but since so few cars came down the road we were on we would also keep walking so that if we didn't catch a ride we would at least be able to find somewhere to stay by making it to a town. We walked probably about 5 km before deciding to wait for a while to see if more cars would pass since we had passed other roads ...

... boarded the ferry - Destination South!

At the moment I am sitting in a big comfy chair in the living room of a hostel right beside the Abel Tasman National Park, the fire is lit - I have a cup of tea beside me, the sun is shining in the window, and chimes gently sing out their tune out on the Verandah. We have been in the South Island now for two nights, we have found a hostel called ‘The Barn’ where we are allowed to park up for free and use all their ...

Day 3 - Wed 25th Feb 2009 Another strange night of sleep. Was it the beds? The morning was dull and drizzly. But I have to say the rented gear was keeping me dry and warm. A little after 10 we headed of North, Route 6. Leaving the wine basin we worked round pine coated mountains with their tips covered in cloud. There was, as yesterday, mainly older wooden homes some with tin sheds that had their Southerly facing roof covered in moss. On the other ...

... where we got on our kayaks - we're experts now- and decided to go see some seals! Seals can abundantly be seen from a nearby island. As we approached the island not only could we see some lazing out on the rocks, but we could also smell them! Not pleasant. Apparently we caught them at mating season so the musk that the males give out actually attracts females. Moreover, we found out that some male seals live what many men describe the ...

... beach was beautiful and empty. Me & mummy were thinking of daddy because we reckon he would have really loved it. The water was crystal clear and if we'd had more time mummy might even have had a bit of a paddle! In the afternoon we found out what the water sandals were for! Mummy had to wade across an estuary. The water came up over everyone's knees and a little lady called Shirley had it coming up to the top of her thighs she was so sort! Mummy judged ...

Continuamos nuestra "road movie" en carvana y llegamos al norte de la isla sur, al Parque Natural Abel Tasman. De aqui es de donde el holandes que da nombre al lugar "salio por patas" y decidio no seguir explorando Nueva Zelanda tras un encuentro no muy pacifico con los locales... Tras un paseito al atardecer, Migel y Patricia conocen a un gran grupo de espanoles en el mismo camping. Les cuentan todos los secretos de la isla sur mientras yo me quedo ...