16/3/09 - 17/3/09 Nelson & Abel Tasman National Park

16/3/09
Lush campsite right on the beach!
Got up & I went for a walk on the beach then we had brekkie & headed into Nelson town to the info centre for Abel Tasman trips. Went food shopping then headed back to the campsite. Made lunch then wandered to a local bar for a beer & waded through the leaflets of trips to do at Abel Tasman National Park. Booked on an all day Kayaking trip with Kiwi Kayaks www.kiwikayaks.co.nz the next day where we walk out then kayak back. Headed back & had dinner & an early night ready for the next day's activities!

17/3/09
St.Patricks Day!
Got picked up round the corner early to start our trip. Drove up to Abel Tasman National Park & got geared up for our day's trip. We got an upgrade to a full day's kayak so the walking got dropped, so we actually get to see loads more of the park. Put on our kayaking skirts, met our group, 2 girls from Holland, 2 from Germany & off we went! Had about a 40 min boat ride out to Bark Bay then got in our kayaks (2 people) to kayak all the way back! Was well funny once we'd got into the swing of paddling in time with each other, few strong words....
Kayaked around the coast, water was so clear & the sun was baking down. Very peaceful on the water.
We kayaked around Adele Island where they have a seal colony & we saw seals popping up. Stopped for a sandwich lunch & a dip (water was freezing!) in Torrent Bay, J went for a walk & looked down onto the beach & I sunbathed. On the 2nd island we came to called Fisherman's Islands where we saw more seals & they swam right up & under the kayak they followed us for a while, it was great as we saw babies too & to be so close was amazing! Then we paddled slowly back to the beach at Sandy Bay - Marahau taking in the scenery & racing the girls from Holland!!
Great day but we did ache a bit!
Got dropped back, showered then walked to the pub for St.Patrick's Day! Had some drinks & food & then walked back where we met a local old guy who lived on the campsite permanently, he had a plot right on the beach. He invited us to his local club the next night to watch him in a poker match, he'd won a lot that night too already!