Abel Tasman

After our Lochmara adventure ended we snagged some groceries in picton and drove along the northern coast (some along the Queen Charlotte Drive) to Marahau to catch a water taxi into the Abel Tasman National Park. The water taxi took us on a quick trip to split rock, which is the third most photographed “piece of real estate”, as the taxi driver told us, in all of new Zealand and then along the taxi route, which stopped at a half-dozen inlets or bays along the coast. The shoreline was stunning. Either golden-blond sand or rocky cliffs rose from the water—both back-dropped by lush hills. Ingrid’s and my trip ended 25 miles up the coastline at Totaranui, a large campsite that used to be a farm. After putting on warmer clothes, we headed off south on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track. This is one of the seven great hikes in New Zealand, and after traveling south not more than a half hour, it was clear why. The trail entered the forest, a lush band of ferns, palms, and other trees and foliage reminiscent of a rain forest, and ascended a small hill. Out of the branches and leaves we saw the coastline from above—the golden sand; the white foam of braking waves; the sea-green ocean; distant mountains of the Marlborough sound; and the nearby hills of Abel Tasman. The trail continued on, sometimes along the beach, sometimes in the forest. Only an hour’s hike took us to Waiharakeke Bay and our campsite for the night. The campsite was set back from the beach in a grassy nook behind a hill. This gave us nice shelter from the sea breeze and allowed us to hear the surf and birds. What a beautiful symphony to fall asleep to.