Driving day to Abel Tasman

This morning the difference of temperature was important; we could make little clouds with our breath. The tent held good in this sheltered camp. We awoke at the break of dawn and were packed and ready to go by 8 am.

Before, we wanted to do the 2h waterfall walk that started right by the kitchen. It was an easy and gentle trial along the river and the first waterfall was pretty anticlimactic. It was but a small trickle of water . We are in the dryest time of the year after all, we should have known. The second one was a little better with a nice shallow pool right below it. I had brought by swim suit, just in case, but it didn’t feel that inviting. Also this walk that was supposed to be 2h, took us 1. We ended up walking another shorter loop in the forest on the way back.

Disregarding this easy trail, the forest is pine trees, there are cicadas and the river is stunning with it’s crystal-clear water. Although the sun rises around 6h30, it only crested the nearby peak around 8. In a matter of 5min, the forest changed completely, some a little damp and somber to an beautiful array of orange lights playing with the trees. The river got a slight turquoise tint. That was beautiful and serene all at once.

We had a little bit of road to do to reach the Abel Tasman park today, and also laundry and to purchase supplies for our first Great Walk. So that’s exactly what we did. 

We arrive early afternoon to the camp site, we have rented a small cabin today to get a good night sleep before the 4 days hike. It was already ready. We took our time this afternoon, taking a nap ( I enjoyed the hamoc tremendously ) and checking out the trail and the tides ( we have a few inlet crossings that depends on the tides ). Packing the bags for the next day didn’t take too long.

In the evening, we didn’t plan for food so we went to the nearby restaurant which was completely full. There was nothing else opened… ( it’s quite remote here ). After a quick google we found a very nice burger food truck a little further away. The burgers were huge, the size of my palm.

Food coma was around the corner, we are going to bed pretty early.