1 Feb 2010 -- New Zealand, Abel Tasman Kayak Trip

Near Abel Tasman National Park and the town of Marahua we made plans to do an ocean kayak trip. We stayed in our first bed and breakfast and the next day showed up for a guided trip. This was one of our must do events, having looked into doing this while still back in the states.

Abel Tasman was a Dutch explorer. He was the first known European to reach the islands of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) and New Zealand and to sight the Fiji islands, which he did in 1643.




The Stables Bed and Breakfast - Out in the countryside.



Our guide for the day and she was very good. Notice she has a single person kayak. We tried to get single kayaks but they gave us a song and dance about safety. Perhaps singles were a status symbol.



Doug and Janet in their huge double kayak.



The kayaks were large doubles. So large in fact, we didn't have to coordinate our strokes, we did anyway. Plenty of storage room so a couple could carry all the gear needed for several days camping.





It was high tide for most of the trip. We were able to go into several coves and poke around. Pulled into one of the beaches and had lunch which was included in the tour package.



Janet took this picture of an unusual (for us) starfish just below the surface.




The tour guide took this one.



The weather was perfect and we hit it just right. We were told that the day before the sea was running high and the tours could not come ashore. This was a full day of kayaking and we enjoyed every minute.



After a day on the water we stopped for a burger near our bed and breakfast. By this time in our trip, fish and chips didn't have the allure it once did.





We split this one for we had been forewarned as to their size. Didn't go hungry. Huge sandwiches.