Kayaking in the Tasman Sea

Trip Start Sep 12, 2005
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Trip End Aug 15, 2006


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Flag of New Zealand  ,
Monday, May 8, 2006

The coastal Abel Tasman National Park is one of the highlights of the South Island. There are various different types of walks and treks you can do, ranging from 2 hour walks to 2 or 3 day walks. We intended to do a 2 or 3 day combination kayak and trek trip so when we arrived in Marahau village we went straight to the travel company to book it...10 minutes later we were on the 5 hour walk to Torrent Bay. We were told that a 2 day trip, kayaking the first day, camp and then walk the second day, no guide just doing it yourself would cost $200 each! We just couldn't pay that amount of money to walk in a National Park. So we walked to Torrent Bay and then took a water taxi back to Marahau, which in itself was a rip off at $24 each, but the walk was worth it.

The next day after a cold night in the tent we hired sea kayaks. This "freedom" option cost much less than the guided trip Abel Tasman Park during our walk
Abel Tasman Park during our walk
 . After a quick safety talk we took to the Tasman Sea. We paddled out to Adele Island and had some lunch, then paddled on to Observation Point. Then we paddled the 3 miles back to Marahau.

After a hot shower we hit the road for Picton. We were booked on the morning ferry back to Wellington. We arrived in Picton and saddled up in the wheeled hotel again and used the last of our gas to cook up some pasta.

It felt like we had just left Picton a few days ago not 2 and a half weeks. We had an amazing time in the South Island but there's still some amazing things ahead like the Tongariro National Park aka Mordor and also the Waitomo caves.
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