Abel Tasman National Park in New Zealand is gorgeous. 
To best describe it, I have to merge other images: take the mountains of Big Sur, mix it with the eye-popping beaches of Maui, add the mineral-rich teal water from Glacier National Park, throw-in the huge tidal changes of Alaska, add a sparkle of Kiwi-Aussie accents of people that make your heart melt, and toss-in the laid-back beach culture of the Pacific Islands… and you have a place to adore – Abel Tasman.
To best describe it, I have to merge other images: take the mountains of Big Sur, mix it with the eye-popping beaches of Maui, add the mineral-rich teal water from Glacier National Park, throw-in the huge tidal changes of Alaska, add a sparkle of Kiwi-Aussie accents of people that make your heart melt, and toss-in the laid-back beach culture of the Pacific Islands… and you have a place to adore – Abel Tasman. We stayed in the small village of Marahau, just steps away from the beach and Abel Tasman National Park. Water taxis are a big business here and they take everyone up and down the coast of this protected park. Our tour group loaded into a water taxi boat (sitting on a trailer) at the kayak place, and then the boat trailer was pulled by small farm Ford tractors, with huge wheels, out 100 yards across sand to the low-tide point of entry where the boats are backed into the shallow water for their mission.
Our trip was called “2 gods” referring to water and mountains. A 45 minute boat ride to Awaroa Bay filled our eyes with the beauty of granite rock coasts, tall mountains, steep ravines, and calm lagoons everywhere.
First, we kayaked for two-hours to see the beauty of the Tonga Island Marine Reserve. This is the realm of the sea god “Tangaroa” where we marveled at the rocky coast and saw sea lions applying oil to their waterproof ‘second skin’. We kayaked to Onetahuti Bay, a spectacularly long stench of calm and sandy beach, and enjoyed lunch sandwiches, laughter, and a longing to just stay there!
The second part of the trip was a two-hour, six-kilometer hike across a peninsula of Abel Tasman where we could feel the presence of “Tane Mahuta” – god of the forest. We hiked up several hundred kilometers from Onetahuti beach over to Bark Bay. The name of this area comes from a Dutch sailing captain in 1642 who was the first European to see the coastline from sailing ship – Abel Tasman.
A better-fitting name is of the native Maori people who attacked Tasman’s ship and forced him to retreat. I love the names of the places and towns here that come from their language, and the Maori people still own some of the better pieces of land.
What We Experienced During Our Time in Abel Tasman National Park:
- Sights: Granite-carved coastline, golden sandy beaches covered with shells, turquoise-blue water, fascinating rocky granite, limestone, and marble outcrops, palm trees, the lushness of the forest, sea lions, fish, lagoons, birds (tui, bellbirds, and pukka), and unmodified estuatries fluffy-white clouds in a clear-blue sky.
- Sounds: Small waves crashing on rocks, birds chirping everywhere, the screeching-clicks of the “cicadas” (grasshopper-like creature) in the bushes and trees, Ford F600 series tractors pulling water taxi boats from land to sea, and my favorite, a long-black (New Zealand coffee) being made for Ted in any cafe.
- Feel: Cool 64 degree ocean water, warm 72 degree sun with less ozone protection, and the comfort of a shady tree.
- Smell and taste: Clean coastal air, saltiness of the ocean, and fish’n’chips during happy hour at Hooked On Fish.
Yesterday, Ted enjoyed a swim in a lagoon several times a day. Sue enjoyed the peacefulness of the small-walkable-village of Marahau and the beauty and charm of the land and people. Abel Tasman is the smallest National Park in New Zealand, but it is now among our favorite National Parks to visit.
Today is a relaxing day; we’ll drive to Mapua. Tomorrow we fly from Nelson to Queenstown for several days and see the Milford Sound.
