Nelson celebrates the Summer season with a fantastic Summer Festival.  The Festival starts with the Lantern Spectacular at the Centre of New Zealand.  Each year, I take my kids who love the annual walk up the hill where they are greeted by magical and whimsical creatures along the way.  This year they loved the colourful flutist, the Fairy Godmother with her unicorn companions and the Talking Trees!  At the top we enjoyed the view over Nelson before making our way back to the Botanics where we were entertained by an amazing drumming group.

The Festival runs until the end of February.  Other highlights of the Festival include the Summer Movies where old classic movies are screened in the parks around Nelson.  Take a blanket and a picnic dinner and enjoy a movie under the stars!

In January take a stroll through the city and enjoy the music of talented musicians as they perform at the top of Trafalgar Street.  At the start of February, don’t miss the Buskers Festival and the huge Trafalgar Street Market Day and the Grand Finale of the Festival is the Nelson Opera in the Park which is being staged on Saturday 26 February.  Fantastic!

For more information on all the Festival Events and program check out this website !

A Welcoming Sun at the start of the Lantern Parade

This colourful flutist entertained us as we walked up the hill

An entertaining Talking Tree!

A magical tree snake

I recently had the great pleasure of going out with The Gentle Cycling Company to experience their Moutere Country Ride.  The Gentle Cycling Company offers a range of self-guided single day tours where you can explore beautiful countryside using a network of cycleways and quiet country roads.

The bikes and helmets could not be faulted!  The bikes were obviously very well maintained, easy to ride and the seats were very comfortable!!!  Helmets, visibility vests and a repair kit were also provided.  The bikes also had a box on the back – perfect for bottles of wine and picnic lunches!

We were taken by van to the start of the ride, where we were given a map and route notes pointing out all the places of interest along the way.  A few of my favourite places on this ride were:

The Settlers Cottage on Somerset Farm which is a quaint rammed earth, thatched roof cottage furnished with period furniture.  Next to it was a paddock of very cute poddy calves!

I really enjoyed the Woollaston Estates Winery and Gallery at Woollaston.  The Gallery features contemporary national and/or international art and outside, the beautiful grounds feature some outstanding sculpture.  Picnickers are welcome and you are also able to order local produce Food Platters to share and enjoy with wine by the glass.  In summer there is also live music on the first Sunday of the month.

There are 3 other vineyards on this tour, as well as hop gardens, blackcurrant fields, apple orchards and olive groves.  The Chandrakirti Buddhist Centre is a Tibetan Buddhist study and meditation centre.  Visitors are welcome and the gardens were beautiful and very peaceful.

Finally, we made our way to the picturesque Upper Moutere Village, where there’s a lot to explore including the village Church, established in 1843 by the German settlers who first came to the area, the Old Post Office and the General Store.  A visit to Owen Bartlett Pottery and Katie Gold Clay Art is also a must in order to view (and possibly purchase!) the beautiful pottery this talented couple creates!

Our tour finished at The Moutere Inn which is New Zealand’s oldest pub. Craft beers, ciders, local wines and light meals are all available at the Pub which made it a fitting end to a perfect day out cycling!

Have a look at The Gentle Cycling Company’s website for details on all the tours they offer!  Highly recommended if you are looking for a relaxed, unhurried day of sightseeing in an historic and beautiful region! 

At the end of my last day in the Abel Tasman National Park, I was picked up by Abel Tasman AquaTaxi at Totaranui for an exhilarating ride back down the coast to Marahau.

The AquaTaxi ride was great!  After donning the obligatory life jacket we left Totaranui behind us and headed south.  The driver was friendly and knowledgable about the Park and the local wildlife.  We slowed down to see a tiny blue penguin – the smallest of the penguin species!  At Tonga Island the Taxi pulled in close to the rocks so that we could easily view the sun-bathing seals!

We picked up more passengers along the way – at Bark Bay and Torrent Bay.  Depending on the tides and the bay, you might be able to hop on board the AquaTaxi without getting your feet wet!  I was lucky enough to do this at Totaranui – I just had to time it right to hop onto the ramp and climb aboard.  At Torrent Bay, our passengers had to wade out through the shallow water to meet us!

At Marahau, the tide was right out, so we were met at the water’s edge by a tractor and trailer.  The trailer was backed far enough into the water so that the AquaTaxi could “drive” straight up onto it!  The AquaTaxi was then secured on the trailer and the tractor towed boat (and passengers) on the trailer back to the AquaTaxi Base at Marahau.

It was a great way to finish my tramp!

Abel Tasman AquaTaxi offers a water taxi service along the length of the Abel Tasman Coastline, picking up and dropping off at all the main beaches from Kaiteriteri and Marahau in the south to Totaranui and Mutton Cove in the north.  The services are scheduled so you do need to make a booking. 

You can book one way fares, or if you are going up to the Park for just one day, have a look at their Day Trip options.  AquaTaxi also offers a couple of great Backpacker Options – return bus fare from Nelson and one way water taxi into the Park to Anchorage for $50.00 or Bark Bay for $55.00.  These options represent fantastic value for money! 

Other services include pack and luggage transfers, guided walks or you can hire a media player to learn more about the Park’s history, flora and fauna.  AquaTaxi also offers very affordable bus transport from Nelson to the Park if you book one of their services – $18.00 return!  Check out AquaTaxi’s website for all the details!

We’re very happy to help you book your Abel Tasman AquaTaxi when you stay at Almond House – so please ask our helpful reception staff!

via Separation Point

• 9:15am, Depart Whariwharangi
• 11:20am, Arrive Mutton Cove via Separation Point
• 11:30am, Depart Mutton Cove
• 1:30pm, Arrive Totaranui!
• Lunch!
• 2:45pm, Water taxi from Totaranui back to Marahau

Once again, I woke up to sunshine streaming in the windows which was great, since I’d woken a couple of times during the night to the sound of heavy rain on the tin roof.  The hut was gorgeous – an old settlers homestead built in the 1890’s.

I set off for Separation Point.  The walk out from the hut in daylight was great – definitely not so scary as the night before!  There was quite a nip in the air which, as I climbed upwards, was not surprising, as there was snow on the Takaka Mountains!

I didn’t walk the whole way out to Separation Point as it was a very steep and rocky descent so I saw some seals, took some photos and returned.

The Track to Mutton Cove took me along deserted beaches and included a mad scramble over a rocky peninsular.  This would have to be one of my most favourite parts of the whole Track.  The colours of the sand, sea and sky were glorious!  I stopped at Mutton Cove for a quick break but I was well on schedule to get to Totaranui in plenty of time for my water taxi.

As I sit at Totaranui, it’s the first time I’ve needed my insect repellant – the sand flies are terrible!

The Aqua Taxi picks me up and an Israeli couple are already on board.  “How long have you been in the Park,” they asked.  “Five days” I replied.  “Have you been walking on your own?” “Yes, I have”.  “And, have you been cooking really nice meals?”  “Actually I have,” I said.  “We’ve heard about you,” they said.  “Everyone’s talking about you in the huts and the amazing food you’ve been cooking!”  How funny!!!

What an amazing five days I had.  Looking back now, I’m so pleased to have walked the Track, and to have walked it on my own.  I really enjoyed the quiet and solitude and space – but heading back to Marahau on the water taxi, I was looking forward to seeing Paul and the kids (who I missed a lot) – and having a long hot shower!

Now I’m looking forward to walking the Heaphy – that’s next on my list!!!

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my experience of the Abel Tasman National Park – I’d love to hear about your time on the Track, or please ask me any questions if you’re planning a trip of your own!  For more photos, please have a look on our Facebook page or on Flickr!

• 1:40pm, Start crossing Awaroa Inlet (low tide = 2:13pm)
• 2:25pm, Start walking from the other side
• 4:15pm, Depart Totaranui
• 7:10pm,  Arrive Whariwharange Hut (in the dark!)

Dinner last night was another amazing affair thanks to Gourmet Trampers!  Moroccan Beef with Couscous and Yoghurt Dressing!  Sue concurred!

This morning is my rest day.  The low tide is not until 2:13pm so I have to wait until at least 12:45pm before I can start crossing.  I’m going to wait until around 1:45pm because today I’m pretty sure I’m going to get more than just my feet wet but I’m aiming for the least wet as possible!  Once I cross I’ve got about a 4 1/2 hour walk to the next hut so it’ll be close to dark when I arrive.  However, I’m enjoying this relaxing morning to write, and read and enjoy the scenery!

The crossing was cold!!!  I walked in, then walked back out, braced myself, then crossed!  At its deepest, the water came nearly up to my knees.  After the initial shock, it was not so bad for the rest of the way (maybe wearing my thermal socks as well as crocs helped!).

Once I’d dried my feet and put my boots on, I set off.  The bush immediately seemed a lot denser and more varied.  I was really enjoying the walk.

The Track dropped down onto beautiful beaches, with craggy coves and wonderful views.  The Track continued on to Totaranui which was very quiet at this time of the year – hard to imagine it teeming with 800 people in the Christmas school holidays!  Yikes!

From Totaranui it was another 3 hours to Whariwharangi so I had to get a move on.  I was hoping the DOC times on the signposting would be a little out – although up until now they had been spot on for me.  I tried not to stop to admire the views too much as I knew that I’d be coming back the same way tomorrow.  I’m glad I was returning because the views were expansive!

I walked the last ½ hour to the hut in the dark.  Unfortunately my torch had broken but fortunately it was a full moon and it was like a floodlight – casting a shadow as I walked.  I was getting just a little scared as there seemed to be very few signs – or none that I could see – so it was with a huge sigh of relief that I spotted a candle glowing in the window of the hut!  Yay!  I’d made it!  Dinner, read for a little, then bed!

I’ve recently returned from walking in the Abel Tasman National Park for 5 days, which was a fantastic experience and one that I thoroughly enjoyed!

I used Abel Tasman Coachlines to get from Nelson to Marahau and back again.  On the first morning, the bus was on time and the driver friendly and courteous.  We had a pleasant trip up to Marahau and the driver made sure all of his passengers knew where they had to get off and where they had to go (some were booked on kayaking trips, others were walking in the park).

I had another good bus trip five days later on the return to Nelson.  The driver was very friendly and chatty and the bus was running on time.  All in all it was a good experience and I’m happy to recommend Abel Tasman Coachlines as transport up to the Abel Tasman National Park.

Abel Tasman Coachlines also offers a variety of 1 day trips to the Abel Tasman which combines transport, water taxis, kayaking, sailing or skydiving, depending on your interests!  They also provide transport up to Motueka and connections to Takaka, Collingwood and the start of the Heaphy Track in the Kahurangi National Park.  Their website has all of the details, timetables and fares.

• 10.00am, Depart Bark Bay
• 11:45am, Arrive Tonga Quarry
• 12:10pm, Depart Tonga Quarry
• 12:40pm, Arrive Onetahuti Beach
• 1:00pm, Arrive Beach Crossing (low tide = 1:30pm, cross, have a break)
• 1:15pm, Leave Beach crossing
• 3:30pm, Arrive Awaroa via Awaroa Lodge (which was closed) (time approx)

I woke to rain this morning – sometimes quite heavy.  I didn’t rush with breakfast and set off at 10:00am.  It was wet, but the overhead canopy meant that all I was feeling was light drizzle.  After a boardwalk around the waterfalls, it was another steep ascent out of Bark Bay and a steep descent into Tonga Quarry.  I’d picked up a walking stick by now which I really liked walking with!  The sun briefly came out for my lunch stop at Tonga Quarry Bay, but disappeared for the long walk around immense Onetahuti Beach.  I got my boots wet crossing Onetahuti Stream but they are holding up really well – and my feet are staying dry!

Then it was another “up and over” to Awaroa.  At the top I chose the track via Awaroa Lodge (not the DOC track) which was supposed to be shorter.  However, this section was poorly maintained, was very boggy, wet and slippery so the going was slow – and once at Awaroa Lodge, which I was surprised to find closed, the signposting was a bit confusing so I don’t think I gained much, if any, time.

I jumped across Venture’s Creek and turned the headland onto the estuary beach only to be met by sand-whipping winds.  The next 20 minutes were the hardest of the day as I trudged along the sand, head down, eyes squinted.

I opened the door to Awaroa Hut and was met by a warm fire and my company for the evening, Sue.  It felt good to have arrived!