Sunday, 09.02., Kaiteriteri and Abel Tasman National Park

Today is a great adventure day. Text from our travel documents:

'At Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures, you will experience a passion for sailing combined with an unparalleled knowledge of the fauna and flora in the Nelson Tasman region. In the early morning, you embark on a 4-hour hike on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track. The Abel Tasman Park is famous for its golden beaches, secluded bays with azure blue water, untouched islands, and forests in the hinterland. Once you arrive at Anchorage Beach, there is lunch and then you board a 13.5-meter catamaran. The boat has a spacious open deck where you can relax and enjoy wonderful views. After about 3 hours, you anchor in Kaiteriteri. A shuttle takes you back to your car.'

First of all, we have breakfast, which is very delicious here, with Bircher muesli and grain bread!!! Then we drive 8 km in a thousand curves to the next town and start on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track. It is again a great hiking trail, beautifully laid out with many views of the sea and the bays. Beautiful! Finally, we also get to see a cicada, which is abundant here and makes quite a noise. Along the way, we also pass trees that have burned. It's unbelievable that most of them are recovering and sprouting new leaves. Everything seems to grow incredibly fast here.

When we arrive at Anchorage Beach, clouds gather and the wind picks up! And I was already looking forward to the sea being quite calm!!! When the catamaran enters the bay, the sun comes out again. First of all, the skipper greets us and hands out lunch packs. That's perfect. We have been walking quite briskly for 3 hours and are hungry. However, Reinhard says that my sandwiches definitely taste better! Then we go up on the boat and with the engine we leave the bay. Then the sails are set and the catamaran glides calmly. With the sun and wind in our faces, it's really fun. We are on the boat for a whole 3 hours, see sunbathing seals, a kayak group with a sail (genius :-)), a kite surfer, and these beautiful bays from the sea and passing by Split Apple Rock.

Back on land, we enjoy coffee and wine in the beach bar. After all, I have to celebrate my first sail! You know: Most of the time, Vomex makes it possible!

When we arrive at our little house, I lie down by the pool and read for another hour. And Reinhard prepares a delicious dinner and a very sophisticated dessert.

The full moon above the sea makes it all very romantic!