The gifted day

Actually we should have continued today and we were already ready to leave for the 450 km to the next accommodation when the tour guide checked the new address again. "Arrival on December 19th."

But unfortunately, unfortunately today is December 18th - find the mistake!

It wasn't due to the time difference (in Germany it's still December 17th), but rather that the tour guide had booked not just 2 but 3 nights in Takaka because the Tasman National Park could still be visited. The travel companion wasn't happy because she was thrown out of bed this morning because we still have a long journey ahead of us. So it was time to unpack everything again. However, the weather agreed with the tour guide and so the golden bay shone in wonderful sunshine. So quickly activated Plan B and looked out the excursion destinations in the national park and it should be worth it. While the landscape on this side still looks like the most beautiful places in the Allgäu with lush green meadows and hilly landscapes with dairy cattle, after the very steep and 30km winding gravel road in the national park it suddenly looks like the South Seas. Totaranui Beach is an insider tip with many secluded bays and fantastic beaches.

Again, everything is free of charge and you won't find any rubbish on the beaches. Not even a small plastic bottle or other traces of civilization. I searched for hours and couldn't find anything, not even a cigarette butt. What a country.