31.-33.Day - Abel Tasman, Golden Bay & Lake Rotoiti

With the Marlborough Sounds behind us, we drive a few very curvy kilometers into Abel Tasman National Park, the oldest and smallest national park in New Zealand. We take a short bush track to Split Apple Bay, where in the middle of a heavenly sandy beach, a split rock actually awaits us. Full of euphoria, we dive straight into the water to get a closer look at this giant, hoping that it is not a Maori sacred site.

One bay over, we see a completely different view of the sea: after the sea level fluctuates a whole five meters between high tide and low tide in Sandy Bay, we have to walk a good 500 meters before we can put our recently borrowed kayak into the water. We convince the pretty trustworthy guy from the rental company of our nonexistent kayaking skills before he sends us off into the unusually stormy sea after a short briefing (... blah blah blah, sweet-ass, blah blah, yeah, nice, sweet...). Short addendum, 'if you get lost, we will find you anyway'!

With sore muscles in our arms and a swaying feeling from the waves, we set up our camp at Old MacDonald's Farm and pray that tomorrow's full day kayak trip won't be as adventurous.

Regenerated, we get back into the kayak, this time in a guided group, and paddle 10 km towards Adele Island, where a seal colony is said to be waiting for us. And behold, after about 3 hours under the merciless sun, we spot the seals on the rocks of the coast, taking their afternoon nap - what a great moment!

We use Sunday to explore the northernmost point of the South Island (Farewell Spit), Whaririki Beach, and the Pu Pu Springs - each place a dream in itself. Whaririki Beach reaches far into the land with its dunes and huge rocks frame the view. There we unexpectedly get up close to seals sunning themselves on the sand.

To continue the journey, we have to drive back the same way since it is a dead-end road. Next destination: Lake Rotoiti, part of Nelson National Park. The surroundings with the lake strongly remind us of Lake Hallstatt... just without the tourist buses ;)

In the next few days, we will venture to the West Coast of the South Island and explore the diverse coastlines. Until then, sending love back home!