Day 16 – Nelson

We spent the entire day hiking (called tramping in NZ) in Abel Tasman National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site that is protected as a world treasure.  The park attracts over 100,000 visitors each year.

Pete is pointing at the beginning of the Abel Tasman Coastal Track, one of NZ’s “Great Walks.”  The track is 32 miles long and takes 3 days to walk.

Along the track, one can book a hut or campsite to rest one’s wear feet.

The track hugs the coast and meanders in and out of the forest and up and down hills.  It is granny and child friendly.  You can walk as far as you desire and book a water taxi to pick you up at a designated cove and take you back to the park’s entrance.

We lucked out and started our hike during low tide, so we were able to catch the expansive tidal pools.

Trampers like to form words in rock for others’ entertainment.

Headed toward a forest canopy.  I turned the corner and caught a glimpse of a big bird with a brown, rounded  belly and long beak crossing the trail in front of me. OMG  a kiwi bird?  It vanished before I could snap a picture of it. DANG IT!

Some wildflowers still bloom in autumn.

We crossed over numerous creeks via footbridges.

We met many “colorful” people on the track.  Young backpackers from all over the world walk this track.  It is a great place for young ladies to commune with nature and with each other.  They can even meet potential soul mates @ the campgrounds.

View from the track

Local residents

Local color

Nature’s hoopa

This friendly couple shared their joy at just finishing one of the most difficult legs of the track.

We took one of the side trails down to the tide pools.

Sea cave

Unusual limestone formations

Kayakers’ paradise

A bird enjoying the view.

Pete carried all this gear for hours.

Mussels anyone?

Freshly opened clams

Unbridled beauty.  Abel Tasman National Park reminds us of Point Lobos on steroids.

After burning about 3000 calories, we stopped at a café at the base of the park and stuffed ourselves with lasagna and salad.

Take a look at the dog’s sheepskin rug on the left–too cool.

An example of Kiwi humor.  This dilapidated car had the funniest bumper stickers on it, such as “Honk if parts fall off.”  To the Bahe’s:  Maybe Hugh’s next license plate could read “HO LEE CHIT.”  It might pass the DMV sensors, thinking it an Asian name.