We just finished another campervan dinner of salad and pasta, the girls are looking for a change soon, but it is an easy, healthy, cheap meal. Our current location is the Abel Tasman Marahau Beach Camp (holiday park) about 100m from the water and very close to the start of the Abel Tasman Coast Track, one of NZ's Great Walks.
Today we embarked on a water taxi ride to the northern end of the park with Marahau Water Taxis and our friendly Kiwi guide, Pete. He told us amusing stories, interlaced with a bit of NZ history and lore (Murderous Bay is now called Golden Bay, "better for the brochures") and guided us up close to view fur seals sunning themselves on Tonga Island. After a tour of the park via water tax, we left the boat and ventured inland at Torrent Bay where the sand flys chased us into the bush and onto the track. From Torrent Bay we hiked over a couple of small headlands and crossed several streams while tramping through what Skyler named, "the green coloring book". After our volcano adventure this was practically rainforest, although this area is also experiencing a drought this summer. We actually were able to cross a swinging bridge over the Falls River, the water was so clear you could see the rocks on the bottom. Our end destination was Bark Bay, where the girls did a bit of swimming and we lounged on the beach to await the return of our water taxi back to Marahau.
Our original plan was to sea kayak this stretch, but age restrictions kept Mckayla out of a boat (you have to be 14), and the weather was quite windy, which would have been a tough paddle upwind for the girls.
I am going to sign off so that the girls can have a go at the blog. Cheers!
Hey this is Justin Cummings from your 9:30 class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It sounds like you had a great time with nonstop fun and adventure. I'm glad I did not go with you because I would not have crossed that swinging bridge. You would have had one less traveler if I came along (haha). However, I never heard of a water taxi, that would have definitely been a most interesting ride for me. I'm glad you had a great time and I hope to see you soon Debby. Be safe and have fun.
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