Susan's Travel Sagas

After a muesli breakfast I arrived in Marahua for today’s sea kayak adventure at 8:15.  After instruction in how to get in and out of the kayak, how to paddle, how to put on the skirt and life jacket, and how to stow things in and on the kayak, we walked down to the beach. The leader was Hamish and we were a group of seven. I was partnered with Hamish.

The kayak trip began in Marahua and we then paddled north to the Abel Tasman Park entrance.  As we rounded the point to enter the Astrolab area, an area of sheltered coves and beaches, the wind came up blowing into us. The wind added to the work of kayaking, but I knew I had a good deal sharing the kayak with the guide. This area was named after the ship of the Frenchman Duval who came to this area to track the planet Venue and then developed the southern hemisphere latitude and longitude system. The large island outside the coast, Adele Island, was named after this wife. One of the beaches passes was named Observation Beach because that is where he set up his equipment to do his astronomical observations.  After several hours of kayaking we pulled ashore at a small beach, Watering Cove, for lunch. We shared the beach with other kayak groups.

The water was beautiful blue with shades varying with depth and the contents of the sea floor. Closer to the beach it was a light icy green color. The beaches were of light golden sand with high green backdrops made up of tree ferns and New Zealand trees such as birch, manuka, and kanuka.  Between the beaches the coast was rugged rock with some rock outcroppings a bit off shore.   Off to our right was Adele Island.

As we neared the end of the time paddling and the wind became a bit stronger, fog literally rolled over a mountainous point and came down and settled on the water and floated around Adele Island.

Once finished we lunch (this trip was named the “Gourmet Platter” we were taken further into the park by aqua taxi and dropped off at  Bark Bay. From there we were to tramp (hike) back to Torrent Bay to meet the aqua taxi to return us to Marahua at 4:00. As usual, the track (trail) started off going uphill. I began with a young couple from Birmingham (she a pediatric audiologist and he a software developer), but it became clear that our paces were not matched. (His plan was to do the Tongairo Crossing, a 19 km mountain tramp     across the highest areas of the North Island mountains south of Taupo, in 2 days.) So I continued on my own as they moved ahead, making way up to the top and then  heading downhill. At the amazing suspension bridge (only 5 allowed on at a time and no room for persons going in opposite directions to cross) I met some backpacking women from Dunedin who so kindly took my picture.  The bridge is suspended over what appears to be river, slow flowing, clear with a greenish appearance reflecting light from all the green trees above. It was amazing and then some kayakers came floating by down below.

I made my way on, stopping every so often when a photo op arose. I came across a group of eight people who appeared to be in their 60’s  and 70’s who were traveling together from the New Orleans area. Every so often one of us or the other would catch up and then we would converse about something.  The track did turn downhill and I made my way back to the pickup point with about 10 minutes to spare. The Aqua Taxi ride was a bit of a thrill, seemed like it took a long time to get back, lots of water spray.  

Once back, I headed back toward Motueka, but this time through Keriterikeri. This was a small beach town with a beautiful beach, a couple of restaurants and shops, a large campground for RVs/campervans, and an adjoining neighborhood that appeared to have many multimillion dollar homes with amazing beach views.  I stopped there and spent about an hour on the beach, sitting, walking, collecting shells, and taking some photos. Dinner was across the street at the Shoreline Restaurant. I sat outside on the front patio. Table was a half hewn log and I was directly facing the beach. Dinner was the daily special of seafood pasta which was ok but way too much. Conversed with a couple at the next table from Florida who were staying in this town at a place with a hot tub (which sounded very inviting). Once finished, back to Mokutueka with a stop at the internet store to use the computer to get a few things taken care of and do a brief e-mail check.

Then back to the Grey Heron for a warm shower and some sleep.