Abel Tasman Coastal Track

Well my second tramp in New Zealand is one to remember. This one was a test of both mind and body. This one of NZ's most crowded and popular tramps but what sums it up is, "Good things come to those who wait."

I stayed my first night at Anchorage Bay campsite and had a great time around the campfire with some people from Israel, Germany, and Scotland. Drank some wine and ate some chocolate, oh and some NZ group gave us some leftover stir fry which was the best food I have had yet. It rained that night and I got up and packed up my wet tent and headed for Bark's Bay.

It was cloudy and ugly the whole day and heavy rain was in the forecast for the night so when I arrived at Bark's Bay I was the only one camping and the DOC (Department of Conservation) lady said that 7 people cancelled. So I was alone at a big campsite and luckily there was a Kiwi family that anchored their sailboat in the bay. We had a beer and some rum and sat around a campfire before the rain started to come.

Before I go any farther, there was a side track to a rapid's/pool called Cleopatra's Pool where you could hike to and swim in. When I went there the water was flowing incredibly fast and what was supposed to look like a pool was a jaquzzi. I stripped down to my undies and climbed up these dangerous rapids, up about 6 levels with a German guy that was doing the same. His girlfriend got some spectacular shots of us.

So it poured like it said it would and the next day was cloudy until the end of the day when it cleared up. You have to plan out the low tide times to cross a lot of the beaches so I had to cross with the water above my knees to my 3rd night of camping, Awaroa. This tide area was gigantic and it was low so I was able to set down my stuff and enjoy a great beach for a few hours.

I woke up early, to catch the low tide, after being chanted at by opossums during the night and headed for Wharangui Camp. I met up with two woman from Auckland and guy from Hong Kong and we had a splendid time tramping. We parked our asses on this remote and incredible beach for about 3 hours and enjoyed the beautiful sun. It was so incredible because we were on the most popular hike and since everyone bailed because of the rain we had this amazing beach all to ourselves. When we pushed on we arrived at Separation Point which was absolutely breathtaking. The waves would crash up against these giant rocks and in the distance where the hills of the south island and the water was a blue that pictures can't give justice too. There were seals and it made you feel alive.

Finished up the hike and watched the sunset and walked to our final destination with Kit for China and caught a watertaxi, yes a watertaxi back to start of the tramp.

I'm slacking on the pictures but no computers will allow me to upload them.

Until next time, cheers,


Wake