Booked the Abel Tasman trek on arrival in Nelson, literally the city at the centre of New Zealand. Spending the first day in Nelson buying supplies for the trek and found it to be an attractive town but generally possessing a warmer climate with a lower annual rainfall than further south.
Started the 4 night trek on the 2nd May, staying in huts with fewer facilities than on other treks, so it was necessary to buy a small camping stove and fuel. The trek is another of the NZ 'Great Walks' probably the most famous and popular of these walks but differs from others I'd completed as being entirely a coastal walk situated in the Able Tasman National Park. As with other national parks in NZ there is very careful conservation of the environment which is greatly emphasised to trampers by the hut wardens. This tramp/trek was outside the main season (from the 1st May) and therefore hut bookings were much cheaper by about 40%. By the end of the first day I'd teamed up with 2 other trampers and we continued tramping together for 4 of the 5 days. Each days tramping took us through black beech and treefern dense forests with sudden spectacular views of sandy bays and inlets which most days we traversed and on 3 occasions negotiated tidal river crossings (at times with water up to and above our knees)as well as taking the opportunity to swim in the bays. The last day involved retracing our steps to the water taxi pick-up point and I had 2 hours in which to collect mussels for dinner that night, and very tasty they were too!
The final 2 days in Nelson were spent sightseeing, visiting the cathedral, hiking to the 'Centre of New Zealand' viewing point and then on to the Japanese Mizuli Gardens and finally in Nelson again making use of the local swimming pool facilities.
The YHA are able to book accommodation and arrange transport to other destinations with no booking fees so I booked my bus to Picton and from there the ferry to Wellington on the 9th May.
Photo 1. A view of Bark Bay from the footpath.
Photo 2. A view of the largest island and the city of Nelson in the distance.
Photo 3. Anchorage bay viewed from the hut, with the incoming tide.
Photo 4. Anchorage Bay at sunset.
Photo 5. Russell, a fellow tramper at Cleopatra's pool.
Photo 6. The forest at Bark Bay, in the evening light.
Photo 7. Sue at Cleopatra's Pool, after a brief paddle as the water was very cold!
Photo 8. A motley crew of trampers waiting for low tide on the 3rd day at Awaroa hut.
Photo 9. A weka bird, with attitude. I had to rescue my boot liners from his grasp and he also bit my undefended toe shortly afterwards.
Photo 10. Nelson viewed from the 'Centre of NZ' vantage point.
Photo 11. Wellington 'Old Cathedral', built entirely of New Zealand timbers and now deconsecrated but still has 5 functioning bells.
Photo 12. Wellington Anglican Cathedral, the foundation stone laid by Queen Elizabeth in 1953.
Photo 13. The old cathedral, again of wood including the bell tower.
Started the 4 night trek on the 2nd May, staying in huts with fewer facilities than on other treks, so it was necessary to buy a small camping stove and fuel. The trek is another of the NZ 'Great Walks' probably the most famous and popular of these walks but differs from others I'd completed as being entirely a coastal walk situated in the Able Tasman National Park. As with other national parks in NZ there is very careful conservation of the environment which is greatly emphasised to trampers by the hut wardens. This tramp/trek was outside the main season (from the 1st May) and therefore hut bookings were much cheaper by about 40%. By the end of the first day I'd teamed up with 2 other trampers and we continued tramping together for 4 of the 5 days. Each days tramping took us through black beech and treefern dense forests with sudden spectacular views of sandy bays and inlets which most days we traversed and on 3 occasions negotiated tidal river crossings (at times with water up to and above our knees)as well as taking the opportunity to swim in the bays. The last day involved retracing our steps to the water taxi pick-up point and I had 2 hours in which to collect mussels for dinner that night, and very tasty they were too!
The final 2 days in Nelson were spent sightseeing, visiting the cathedral, hiking to the 'Centre of New Zealand' viewing point and then on to the Japanese Mizuli Gardens and finally in Nelson again making use of the local swimming pool facilities.
The YHA are able to book accommodation and arrange transport to other destinations with no booking fees so I booked my bus to Picton and from there the ferry to Wellington on the 9th May.
Photo 1. A view of Bark Bay from the footpath.
Photo 2. A view of the largest island and the city of Nelson in the distance.
Photo 3. Anchorage bay viewed from the hut, with the incoming tide.
Photo 4. Anchorage Bay at sunset.
Photo 5. Russell, a fellow tramper at Cleopatra's pool.
Photo 6. The forest at Bark Bay, in the evening light.
Photo 7. Sue at Cleopatra's Pool, after a brief paddle as the water was very cold!
Photo 8. A motley crew of trampers waiting for low tide on the 3rd day at Awaroa hut.
Photo 9. A weka bird, with attitude. I had to rescue my boot liners from his grasp and he also bit my undefended toe shortly afterwards.
Photo 10. Nelson viewed from the 'Centre of NZ' vantage point.
Photo 11. Wellington 'Old Cathedral', built entirely of New Zealand timbers and now deconsecrated but still has 5 functioning bells.
Photo 12. Wellington Anglican Cathedral, the foundation stone laid by Queen Elizabeth in 1953.
Photo 13. The old cathedral, again of wood including the bell tower.
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