What a fantastic day! Sea kayaking around the world famous (to sea kayakers anyway) Abel Tasman National Park coastline.
As you can see from the pics, there was a bit of cloud cover today. Although that wasn't great for the photos, it did mean that it was a perfectly pleasant temperature for kayaking and we didn't get scorched by the sun!
We started off at Tata Beach where we rented a double kayak. Apparently heading off in two single kayaks is seen as very dangerous to Kiwi kayakers? Anyway, we were quite happy to take the double as we wanted to cover some distance so wanted two of us powering the boat. I'm still baffled by the logic and am yet to receive a rational explination? Any offers? Having gone through the obligatory safety brief we set out around the first couple of islands. There were plenty of Cormorants and Shags perched on the cliffs eyeing us up as we crept past. There was one other 'guided' group in the vicinity, which we soon managed to loose and after that, we pretty much had the coastline to ourselves! A far cry from the southern end of the park near Motueka where there were tour boats, jet skis, trekking trails and loads of kayak groups. It looked like we'd made a good decision to carry on to the quieter northern shores.
After rounding the first headland into Wainui Bay, we decided to make a big 3km open water crossing to Taupo Point. This meant we'd be leaving the last bit of road acessable coastline and heading into the wilds! Half way across, something big and black loomed out of the water! It then started thrashing around as if it was eating something! Whale or Fur Seal? We weren't sure and got as close as we dared before it disappeared into the deep blue yonder! Very exciting non the less! We made landfall just past the headland on an idyllic deserted sandy beach, Robinson Crueso style.
We had a bite to eat, then got the snorkels out and had a swim around our private bay. Not many fish about (except for some brilliant star fish), but there were loads of big and brightly coloured shells. The water was crystal clear.
We then continued eastwards to 'Seperation Point' where there was a small Gannett colony and bizarrely, some plastic Gannett replicas and a loud speaker blaring out 'Gannett noises'! (To help attract more recruits we later found out!). Past Seperation Point we could see all the way down the coastline of the Abel Tasman National Park and could even make out a few people on the beaches in the distance.
They kayak company had given us a
sketch map of the coastline which we decided to consult to check out progress, only to find out that the words 'exposed and difficult coastline - no kayaking' had been written over our current location! It was very exposed, but the conditions made it perfectly safe today. We'd come along the coast as far as we'd planned, and having checked the weather before leaving, knew that the wind and tide would help drift us home from here.
The wind picked us as required in the afternoon, and we were able watch the cliffs and wildlife as we floated along with the breeze at our backs. We called into a little cove to say hi to a Fur Seal. He came off the rocks to suss us out and swam gracefully under the boat before doing a few rolls then returning to his rock to sun bath. Shortly after a Blue Penguin popped up next to us and swam along side for a bit!
Staying a bit closer to land we did a bit of rock dodging and squeezed through this rock arch.
With the wind behind us, we'd made good time on the crossing back, so found another small sheltered bay for another snack and of course a swim.
We got back to base at 5pm and having just covered some 20km of coastline were starting to feel justifiably tired. What a treat it then was to remember that we had one more night of luxury in 'The Adventure B&B'. A short drive later, we were freshly showered and enjoying a drink in a comfy chair on the terrace. Great Days. Excellent!
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