Abel Tasman National Park,
South Island,
New Zealand
Friday, June 12, 2009
From Motueka we drove to Abel Tasman National Park. There is a massive 4 day hike you can do there, but, being short on time we hiked only the first hour of the coastal track. We passed coves, lagoons, caves and beaches with wonderful golden sand. We could see islands covered with forest just off the coast and David got very wet feet clambering over the rocks to a cave. It was very pretty, but very cold. We would like to come back in summer to see it at its best. It started to rain just as we got in the car and drove to the park's northern entrance, the other end of the 4 day coastal track. We drove over a hill on a very twisty road which must have had great views, but it was too misty for us to see them. We stopped for lunch at Grove Scenic Reserve, where we walked through some strange rock formations enveloped in tree roots and huge tree ferns to a lookout between two sheep slabs of rock. We could see the green fields full of sheep with the sea beyond. We drove along a beautiful stretch of coast with golden bays and sheer cliffs. We were aiming for Awaroa, but the road had rivers crossing it. We crossed one ford, and David was very proud that our little car didn't cut out, but the next one was too deep. We changed the route and went to Totaranui, a pretty beach with smooth golden sand and driftwood and shells scattered everywhere. It was a long and winding drive back. We stopped at the Te Waikoropupu Springs to see the crystal-clear blue water bubbling out of the ground. Due to the rain there was masses of fast-flowing water everywhere. I even saw a large black fish. By now it was getting dark, and David could hardly see anything on the dark and misty drive back over the hill. But we made it in one piece and continued to Nelson, where we found a lovely hostel that gave us free hot chocolate pudding with ice cream. Yummy!
