Day 541 – Abel Tasman, New Zealand

Matt And James At The End Of The Trail

Day 541 - 1st December 2006 +13:00 GMT Total Miles 89993

The five of us got up at 6:30am and headed over to Marahau as we were booked on the 9am aqua taxi to Abel Tasman National Park. We took the aqua taxi to Torrent Bay and then started walking through the village and along the path back to Marahau.


Us At Torrent Bay

We decided since the tide was quite low we walk take the beach route to save an hour walking. This was good although the beach was full of very sharp shells and loads of crabs and of course a river we needed to cross.


Jemma Crossing A River


A Crab

We waded through he river which went over our knees and made it to Anchorage bay avoiding being nipped by crabs. Then we decided we would walk back along the path and visit Cleopatra’s pool.


Jemma And Nora At Cleopatra's Pool

This was about 40 minutes away in the direction we had just come. When we got there Matt and I decided we would have a swim and it was icy cold. The others just watched and ate there lunch. After about an hour we started the 12 km back to where we had left the car, the scenery is breathtaking and the walk was very enjoyable.


Abel Tasman


Abel Tasman

We stopped at Akerston Bay for half an hour to have a rest and eat the remainder of our food.


Matt, Nora, Jemma And James


Akerston Bay - Abel Tasman

We then carried on until we got back to the car.



We arrived back in Marahau around 4:30pm and then drove back to the beach hostel in Nelson. In the evening we crossed the street to the smugglers cove which is a pirate bar and restaurant, we had a nice meal and Paul from the hostel joined us as well as some other English people staying at the hostel.

Day 540 - Nelson, New Zealand

Day 540 - 30th November 2006 +13:00 GMT Total Miles 89943

After breakfast we drove into the centre of Nelson and walked up to the point which is the centre of New Zealand, from here you have fantastic views of the sea, city and surrounding countryside.


Centre Of New Zealand


View Of Nelson

We then took a walk along the tops of the hills and ended up in the middle of nowhere so after a shortcut down the hillside and through someone’s farm we made it onto the main road. We walked to the Miyazu Zen Gardens we had a wander around.



Miyazu Zen Gardens


Miyazu Zen Gardens

Then walked further down the street to visit the Founders Organic Brewery. Here we sampled there different beers and had some lunch.


Beer Tasting

We sat outside in the sun here for a couple of hours chatting and enjoying the day. I then had an appointment with an Immigration specialist who informed me that I could probably get residency straight away as I had enough points to qualify. After this meeting we drove back to the hostel and James, Matt and I went for a walk along the beach and to watch the sunset.


Nelson Beach

Then James had a great idea that we all eat in KFC, this reminded me why it had been so long since I had eaten a KFC the food is truly awful, We spent the rest of the evening chatting with Barry and Paul and trying to fix barry’s ipod.

Day 539 – Wellington – Nelson, New Zealand

Day 539 - 29th November 2006 +13:00 GMT Total Miles 89929

Jill had to stay and run the hostel so James, Matt and I were heading to the South Island for 16 days so we Called the Taxi at 9:15am and made our way to the Inter-islander ferry terminal, we checked in and boarded the ferry. The ferry was quite dull with only a small café and a small bar to keep us entertained for the three hour crossing, luckily the weather was OK and the crossing was smooth. We arrived at Picton around 1:30pm and met up with Jemma who had stayed at Maple Lodge a few days before.


Picton

We picked up our hire car and was given a 2001 model Nissan Sunny. We drove the Queen Charlotte Drive stopping at scenic points to admire the view and take photos a few hours later we arrived in Nelson. We checked into The Beach Hostel and instantly became friends with the people who run it, Barry, Paul and Kevin. After settling in we met another girl called Nora and we heading into the centre of Nelson in Search of food. The decision was made to eat out at a Thai restaurant we were chatted and had a great meal. The rest of the night was spent sitting in our room listening to some tunes catching up and getting to know Jemma.


Our Hire Car

Day 538 - Wellington, New Zealand

Day 538 - 28th November 2006 +13:00 GMT

Woke up late and James and Matt had wandered into town for coffee, unfortunately they went to Starbucks rather than any of the fantastic coffee shops we have in Wellington. We walked down to the waterfront then along to Te Papa. We spent a couple of hours looking around Te Papa and then James met an old friend he used to work with in Bath (Debbie). So we all walked along the waterfront and visited The Parliament buildings and then along Lambton Quay and we caught the cable car up to the botanical gardens.


City View From Botanical Gardens


Flowers In The Botanical Gardens


Botanical Gardens

Here we explored the gardens then the rest of the city and made out way to the Southern Cross for a quick beer. In the evening the five of us went out to Great India and had a fantastic meal which the small exception of an argument of a piece of Pashwari Nan.

Day 537 - Wellington, New Zealand

Day 537 - 27th November 2006 +13:00 GMT

Picked Jill up from the hostel and 9:15am and drove to the airport to meet James and Matt, my UK friends who were flying over on a three week holiday. We parked the car and waited soon after 9:30am we all met up with the usual big greetings and we headed off to my flat for a cup of tea. We then walked up to the two Mount Victoria lookouts And took some photos.


James And Matt At Top Of Mount Victoria

Then off to the hostel to check Matt and James into there room. Matt fell asleep so James, Jill and I had a wander into town and went for coffee with a few others from the hostel. The had a Thai takeaway and called it a night

Day 536 - Wellington, New Zealand

Day 536 - 26th November 2006 +13:00 GMT Total Miles 89800

Spent the day working at the hostel so Jill could have a break, as she had not had a day off since the 1st of July ad working seven days a week she needed a break.

Day 535 – Wellington, New Zealand

Day 535 - 25th November 2006 +13:00 GMT Total Miles 89800

Walked up mount vic with Nadine, Rob, Jemma and Stephen. Visited both lookout points and then walked down Pallister Road and to Kaffe Eis walked along the beach and back to the hostel.