New Zealand trip Day 10 - Abel Tasman National Park

Today, one off the bucket list. Walking in the Abel Tasman National Park.

The walk we wanted to do was only accessible by water, so we were on the beach bright and early at Kaiteriteri, ready to board the Abel Dominator. This water taxi service supplies campsites and facilities in the park, so it was first loaded up with a swag of supplies.

 Uniform for skipper and first mate includes bare feet. Very sensible.

We decided to stay on the boat all the way to near the top end of the park at Totaranui, then disembark from the return journey at Torrent Bay, about half way back down. It was gorgeous on the water. Aquamarine colour, seals, kayakers, birds, islands. So peaceful.

Seal tumbling around near Fisherman's Island

Dropped supplies, walkers and kayakers along the way. As you can see, weather smiling.

Past Awaroa Head and towards Cloudy Bay

Torrent Bay is only accessible at low tide if you wade in to shore off the boat. So we did, carrying the hiking boots. See the punter in the background with a wheelbarrow? He has just picked up his gas bottle from the boat.

The track climbs quickly up away from the beach. It is cool, moist, green, ferny.

Silver fern

Tree fern with new season's growth

All along the path, there are vistas of the beaches far below.

This is Halfway Pool. I am saying: hurry up and take it! This water is freezing!

Ancient liana forms a nice resting place

The Falls River is spanned by a swing bridge measuring 47m long. That's very long. Plus it was extremely high above the water. No time for vertigo.

 Pink granite

Another beach view. The track is pristine, with very few introduced weeds. Before it was declared a National Park in 1942, there were a few houses and these have been permitted to stay with very strict rules.

Moss walls flank the path

Our destination after our leisurely day's walk was Medland Beach

The silver fox rests his feet and gazes into the water

Our pickup boat arrives on cue

It is easy to walk on via the gangway that lowers down from the nose of the boat

Fancy bit of manouevering on the way back. Deck hand Mark plunged into the water to pick up an abandoned kayak off the beach, while the skipper held the craft steady against the waves and the rocks. Soon as Mark had scrambled back on board, I heard the skipper mutter to himself, Right. Lets git outta here. This is my idea of a perfect day. Finished off with a drink on the terrace of the pub at Kaiteriteri overlooking Tasman Bay, then home to eat up some local produce and then sleep like a child.