Abel Tasman

Hello again. Abel Tasman is best explored from the water, but definitely also on foot. There are some options for camping for multi-day tours. We opted for a day trip and had one of the many water taxis drop us off at Medlands Beach. Arrival was at 11:30 AM, with a return scheduled from Anchorage at 5:20 PM. At that time, we were still optimistic because Google Maps shows significantly shorter times for the journey than what is indicated on the signs. But the signs are correct. Additionally, there is only intermittent cell reception in the national park. An offline map and a physical map (free from the water taxi) are advisable, even if there are only a few paths.

Departure was in Kaiteriteri on the Vista 2. Initially, we took a detour to the second most photographed rock in the world, the Split Apple. After arriving at Medlands Beach, 15 minutes to the north, we headed towards the Bark Falls. However, due to the lack of rain lately, they were rather unimpressive.

Then we went up and down over the High Tide Track towards Anchorage. The hike is quite challenging and there are long climbs. Along the way, Wekas occasionally appeared to check for dropped food. Upon arriving in Torrent Bay, where you can choose between the Low Tide (the walkable beach at low tide, significantly shorter) or High Tide track to Anchorage, the weather unfortunately got worse. On the way to the Cleopatra Pools, it also started to rain. But whether you are wet from sweating or rain, it doesn't matter. The functional clothing dries quickly and is more practical than cotton. The Cleopatra Pools are surely great for a cooling off in nice weather, but we didn’t want to climb over the stones through the river to get the best pictures. Time was also pressing to reach the rendezvous point. We then reached the beach at 4:50 PM. The boat was set to depart at 5:10 PM, which surprised us a bit. It’s better to arrive early!

The distance assessment indicated about 17 km with 310 meters of elevation gain, the highest point about 100 m above sea level.

Those who enjoy kayaking a bit more can rent one and explore the bays and offshore islands alone or in organized groups. Definitely sounds very appealing.