Abel Tasman is one of our New Zealand favorites. Its principal feature is the Abel Tasman Coastal Track, one of NZ's "Great Walks." On our first visit, in 2009, we did pretty much the whole thing, from Marahau to Whariwharangi, hut to hut for five days, then the water taxi back from Totaranui. Our second visit, 2014, we backpacked, getting to Totaranui and then taxiing back to Marahau. We added a day of kayaking onto that too. In 2018, we did huts again, as far as Awaroa, then taxiing back from there. If you know the place, you will see that this describes a sort of trajectory, probably more related to age than anything else. For 2023, in our mid-70s, we settled for day hikes, one just up the track from Marahau and back; another, utilizing the water taxis, from Torrent Bay to Bark Bay, and back; and a third, just around Totaranui, to Skinner's Point. For the first two, we camped at Marahau. The track is a wonderful combination bush and hills overlooking the beaches, then onto the beaches themselves, and also a couple of exciting low-tide bay crossings. The bush is gorgeous, the golden sand beaches even better, and then there are all the coastal seascapes. As with all NZ's tracks, whether Great Walks or not, the trails are immaculate, well-signed, and prohibit such nuisances as horses and dogs, bears, moose, and mountain lions. Our many previous Abel Tasman posts can be found via the blog's search box. Below are just a few pix from our day hike from Marahau.
 |
| Helpful map #5,206 |
 |
Vicki, ever respectful, culturally, will not let me
glower nor stick my tongue out for these poses |
 |
| In Montana, we'd call this a war lodge |
 |
Typical; except the sand gets more golden as you
proceed up the coast |
 |
| Looking back past Marahau toward Kaiteriteri |
 |
| Sooooo clear... |
 |
| Interior view |
 |
Kayaking is a popular mode of transport...for the
first several miles; the sail is an innovation we've
not seen before |
 |
| The clarity of the inland streams is impressive too |
 |
| Us, there, then |
 |
| Adele Island |
 |
A weka after some roasted edamame beans I dropped;
similar to the mythical kiwi but by no means endangered;
weka can be aggressive and will put up a convincing fight
against dogs, cats, stoats, and the like; so we have been
told; they are also thieves, like the Fiordland kea parrot we'll
soon re-encounter.... |
 |
| Falling tide |
 |
| Tree ferns everywhere |
 |
| Low-tide vista |
 |
| Fun sports back at Marahau |
1 comment:
Day hikes are a good idea these days.
Post a Comment