Abel Tasman

Another couple of hours up the east coast and we arrived in the small town of Kaikoura, mecca for whale watching. Our budget wouldn't stretch to getting in another plane and flying over the ocean trying to spot whales. However the seals and penguins that lounge on the rocks below the peninsular cliffs are free.














Our final port of call on the south island was the stunning Abel Tasman national park, on the north coast. On route we had time to call in at the Omaka Aerodrome near Blenheim. This is an impressive collection of (mainly full scale reproduction) WWI fighter planes, presented in sets built by Weta Workshop (of LOTR fame). Even if you don't have a nerdy fascination with old planes (and I don't), it's still well worth an hour if you're passing by.















This being a warm, long weekend, accommodation was thin on the ground, and we had to settle for two nights in a backpackers in Motueka, rather than more picturesque Marahau, further along the coast.














The two activities around here are hiking and kayaking. We opted for a full days kayaking, and were loaded onto the water taxi for the ride up to Onetahuti Beach. It's fairly busy in the park with over a dozen boat loads of kayakers leaving from the boat ramp in Marahau.

We paddled out and around the seal colony on Tonga Island, before heading over to Bark Bay for lunch and a quick swim. We continued at a gentle pace to our final destination of Anchorage in Torrent Bay. Here dozens of kayaks are parked up on the beautiful beach, awaiting transportation back to base.




















We had an afternoon crossing to Wellington from Picton, and as we approached along the ridiculously windy Queen Charlotte Drive, the weather worsened and the wind picked up. It was far too cold and windy to stand outside and view Queen Charlotte Sound pass by. So instead we sat inside in the upper foreword bar.














As soon as we cleared the Sound for the open waters of the Cook Strait, the ship started to get tossed by the mountainous sea. Thirty minutes later and the crew were busily running round with sick bags and paper towels. I seemed to be the only one still buying beer from the bar.