Abel Tasman - Kayak tour / NZ

Coming from the West I would suggest to e.g. have lunch in Havelock. The region is famous for its Green-lipped-mussels. 
Be aware, there is no ATM in Havelock working for European Cashcards. 

I went on to Marahau in Abel Tasman and stayed at the camp Marahau - The Barns. It's a mixture of a campsite and a hostel. The Stray buses stop here either. The common rooms are nice, two kitchens if I get it right, washing machines etc. Just the guy at the reception was extraordinary unfriendly (no Kiwi though ;-) )

You can go for a walk at the beach or just go into one of the few restauarants or have a chat with one of the hostel guests :-). If you would like more action you need to stay in Motueka, it's a bigger city you pass on your way to Marahau. 
Depending when you arrive or leave, you definitely need to stop at Toad hall. It has fantastic food!

Sunrise from the campsite

Abel Tasman Coast

For the next day, again I had booked via bookme.nz.co a combination of a kayak and a walking tour. You also can do just a kayak tour and you can choose between different areas.
The trip starts in Marahau, that's why I stayed here ;-), you get picked up and then we headed to Onetahuti with a speed boat. 

Our kayaks and kiwi guide were already waiting at the beach. All in all we were eight and me as the only single person was sitting with the guide in a boat. Always good :-)
After some adjusting and explaining we started a relaxed paddle across to Tonga island. It's a protected little island you need to keep a specific distance to, but you still can hear and see some baby seals. 

Tonga Island

Once paddled around the island we went on to Bark Bay. I can't really remember, but I guess it took us about two hours which were just flying by. 

Lunch time

At Bark Bay we had sandwiches for lunch and a fantastic carrott cake! Something you can book in advance or bring your own.

Two went on with the kayak, two left back to Marahau with a boat and a couple and me left for the walk. We weren't walking slow, but we had to go the longer way as the flood came in though we couldn't take the shortcut to Anchorage. We more or less got there in time, with just a few photo stops and a short jump into the water, before the water taxi arrived we had to take (it's the last one of the day).

In this area is also one of the great walks of NZ, completely different to the Fjordlands you have beaches instead of mountains.
The couple told me they were on the North Island before and you have many spots like this, for me the Abel Tasman was completely new  to the rest I had seen on the South Island. Very gorgeous. 

In the evening I had a great Mussle Burger at Fat Tui. If you ask for the place everybody can tell you where it is (everything in walking distance in Marahau) otherwise you can find it on every social media like tripadvisor, lonely planet etc.. It tastes fantastic. 

View from the top (nearby split apple) onto Marahau

Start of the walk to the beach and split apple

Next morning I drove up to the Split Apple (shortly before Marahau is a left turn, take that one). There is a small parking space and a kind of jungle walk down to the beach. Try to be early and you will be the first, no kajaks, no tourist ships, no sailing boats. The beach and the apple is yours :-)
 

Split Apple

Split Apple

The beach was mine, at least in the morning :-)

Leaving, I went back to the West Coast and took the Motueka Valley Highway, but not before having lunch at the toad hall :-).  

Picton / NZ

Driving up the coast to Picton you pass some good wineries. I didn't stop, had to drive anyhow. Next time I definitely would take a bike and cycle from winery to winery :-). 

Arriving in Picton 190 km later after I started in Kaikoura I first went to the Campsite Parkland Marina Holiday Park.

I went back the road and parked at the school / university. Whatever is on the way ;-) and went on a track leading to the Snout Track.
It's a oneway track though you are coming back the same way, it offers fantastic views on the Queen Charlotte Sound. There is a stop with a bench with a fantastic view. Stop, take a breath and just enjoy. From there you can walk on to the snout of the headland. This part is ok, but I really liked the spot at the bench :-)
 

Queen Charlotte Sound

The green hill to the right is the Snout you will be walking

Queen Charlotte Sound

 

View from the boat to the snout

kind of warm keeping, smelly ;-) neo

For the next day I had booked a Dolphin swim trip via bookme.co.nz I know this is very touristy but I heard from friends it was a fantastic thing to do and it's not with trained dolphins, but free ones. 

And this is how lucky I have been. It didn't happen (though as with the whale boat trip I got most of the cost reimbursed), but I am sure it would have been a great experience.
Nevertheless, first we have seen a whole bunch of Hector dolphins. This was fantastic. They are protected and you are not allowed to get into the water with them, but they were swimming and jumping around our boat.
We went on cruising the Sound, which was a nice trip. Not the best had been that they told us to wear the neo from the start, in case we quickly had to jump into the water. Result, we were sweating in the suites, it was pretty cool that day, though in a matter they kept us warm but after a while it also got cool.
As we didn't see any dolphins we were allowed to jump into the water with a few seals. It was nice, but freaking cold (I know I am writing this months later, but when this took place it was February, means summmmmer).

Searching for dolphins

Hector dolphin and its calf

Just beneath our feet

Jumping and having fun

Our swim partner

On the boat I met a great woman working to direct a documentary about the ferry between North and South Island. We went to have yummy lunch in Picton and then I left via Queen Charlotte Drive to head to Abel Tasman. 

Kaikoura - Whale watch / NZ

From Hokitika I went up to Greymouth and crossed via Route 7 from the West to the East Coast. 
I stopped at the Hanmer Springs for a break. It was quite relaxing sitting in the heat of the hot springs after my hike the day before. 

At the Campsite

Reaching Kaikoura I stayed at the Kaikoura Holiday Park. The whole way is 383km, which was too much driving for one day. 

For dinner I got great Fish'nChips in town at Tiki's Take Away. You can also do some souvenir shopping. One street, not too big, but a few lovely little shops.

On the boat

For the next day I had booked a boat trip to go Whale watching. Again my tipp to check on the website bookme to get a discounted ticket. In the morning you will find out, if your trip takes place at all, depending on the weather conditions etc. They asked me if I need anything against sea sickness. I never was sea sick in my life.
We went to the harbour, got on the boat and off we went. Bit farther out the waves were quite high and at the end everybody except the staff was hanging above a paper bag, including me. Now I understood the long explanation of the crew how to use a paper bag.
What we did not see was a whale :-(
At least you get quite a lot of your money reimbursed in case you do not see a whale.

I really wanted to see a whale, therefore I checked the bookme page myself and booked a flight with Air Kaikoura (there is another company called wings over whales) for the next day :-).

Having a lot of time left that day I first went to the Lavender farm. I am not telling much, as the owner a Dutch Couple told me they are going to sell the farm as they wanna retire. But next to a garden full of lavender they had a little shop with great smelling self-made lavender articles.  

 

The Peninsula and the walk

At the road to the peninsula

The rest of the day I spent on a long walk starting somewhere along the road after you have passed the ISite. I walked and walked along the whole peninsula, saw some seals, went on and went up to the top of the peninsula, walked along there and crossed somewhere after  reached the houses at South Bay. Long walk, but nice and beautiful weather. 
 



 

 

The next day I went to Air Kaikoura The little airport is outside of town with two pilots running the business (at that moment). A couple joined who sat in the rear and me sitting in the front next to our pilot Melissa. 
It was fantastic. We have seen one whale, which was great but the flight itself was also very fantastic. The view on the peninsula was amazing and there has been a huge group of dolphins doing jumps and having fun with each other. 

The Whale :-)

Many many and jumping dolphins

Kaikoura peninsula

I couldn't tell what I would recommend boat or flight?! If you see a whale from the boat, you are nearer, from the plane you have a different perspective. I really loved the flight. 

Afterwards I left Kaikoura heading up the coast to Picton.

Tipp: I haven't done it, but I read about the The Kaikoura Coast Track. Sounded nice, maybe you are interested, it's a few days and your food & luggage even gets transported. Have a look at www.kaikouratrack.co.nz