New Zealand 10 (or ... Abel Tasman too)

10-April-2011

Let's see, where were we. Ah yes, Sunday morning in Marahau. We got up a little early so we could get over to the water taxi place where we were catching a ride on a 7m (ish) aluminum outboard with about 15 people and a bunch of kayaks up into Abel Tasman. We actually paid for a guide and the price included the kayak, water taxi rides, and lunch. The plan was to get dropped off in one spot, kayak for a few hours down to another spot and eat lunch, leave the kayak for the guide to take back, hike for a few more hours, and then get picked up by the water taxi and get taken the rest of the way back to Marahau. And the plan worked great. Our group was nice: just the guide, the two of us, and another couple. The rest of the people and kayaks on the boat were another tour.

We got to the outfitters and got a quick safety briefing, and all thaat stuff that has to get done. Then we donned our appropriate gear there on the lawn. Which I thought was a little funny, since we were, well, there on the lawn.

There on the lawn.

But the reason they wanted us to put everything on is that they had us all load into the boat which was on its trailer... right there on the lawn.

On board the boat ... on the lawn.
The other people sitting there are doing a different trip, but taking the same water taxi.
The woman standing in the background is our guide, Emily.

And the reason that they had us load up on the boat on the lawn is that they had the boat trailer hooked up to a tractor, and they just drove it down the street fully loaded to launch it.

Driving down the street.

Out onto the beach.

And into the water.

Once in the water, they turned around in the shallows, and then backed as deep as they could go, and launched the boat. I must say that it sure looks funny seeing a tractor pulling a boat out in the water.

Once in the water (without tractor), we quickly sped up the coast, and they deposited us on a beautiful beach.

Just one of many. Did I mention beautiful?

I didn't get a lot of pictures while kayaking because I didn't want to get the camera wet. But it was really beautiful. I gave the guide my camera to take a couple pictures even though she told us that she once dropped a very expensive digital SLR overboard. (Bummer!)

Not much to say, but we're in a kayak; though that is probably obvious.

I could have said beautiful scenery, but that's rather obvious, too.

And this would be why they put their names and websites on their life jackets.

Gives a good idea of the places we were kayaking, though.

The kayaking came to an end, and we got out of the water and onto the beach to eat lunch with a couple local birds... Paradise Ducks.

Girl duck.

Boy duck.

And then we said good-bye to Emily - who had a wonderful laugh and reminded me a lot of Vanessa from college - and got on the trail to go hiking again.

Bye Emily!

Hiking through the drab, miserable, same-old same-old.... ridiculous green.

Wow. Nice trail.

Actually, the same-old same-old comment is kinda true. It looked like this everywhere!


Lots of views from the trail out into some little bay or inlet...

Here's one such view.

And here's another.

There was a suspension bridge that one needed to cross during the hike to get over a bit of water that came way inland. Here's Lynne standing on the bridge (the view is looking back the way we came - north).

Again with the ferns!

Here's the view from the middle looking inland.



And here's the view of me in the middle(this view is looking south - the way we're headed).

It was narrow, and moved a little, but not too much.

And finally, here's the view looking out toward the ocean.

The ocean is just sort of around that bend there.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned that I liked the ferns, but here's a nice one...

This is looking straight down on one from the suspension bridge.

Actually it's the one to the left of Lynne (to her right) in that picture of her on the bridge.

Continuing with the hike... here's another typical scene.

(For some reason, I've decided that this will be Marc's favorite picture. Yes? No?)


Another beautiful little spot.

That's a pool of very clear water just underneath those... (dare I say it?) ferns.

And here's where our hike came to an end. This is Torrent Bay looking toward the south.

The water taxi picked us up from the beach at about that little bump in the coastline just above my hat.

A great day: incredible scenery, good food for lunch, and tractors towing boats out of the water. What else could anyone ask for?


And that about does it for our weekend in Abel Tasman. We definitely had a great time there.

Still another entry or two to come before the trip is over....