Our adventures took us to Abel Tasman National Park on the south island. Early in the morning, we boarded a boat taxi to Totaranui Beach, where we ventured to Anapai, an hour’s walk away. Once there, Stéphane and I were the only ones there on a pristine beach with aquamarine waters. It was perfect!
I won’t lie: after our hike on Tongariro we were EXHAUSTED. Thankfully, the Abel Tasman Coast Track was beautiful — though every time we had to scale a head’s steep switchbacks, we groaned. Between forests and beaches, our trek lasted all afternoon so we could reach our destination for the evening. At Goat Bay, we found a colony of green-lipped mussels, a native to the area. They are huge and have an amazing green tint to the shell.
I was enthralled with the weka birds. They are like “rats” we were told by a Kiwi, but still, I liked them and their curiosity. When Stéphane and I reached the tide flats across from Awaroa, it was midday and we were ready to be at our destination.
The tide flats were in our way – along with a small group of wekas, a few dozen crabs and millions of shells. The crabs were amazing – scattering as we stomped through their homes. And the shells! At one moment I took a step and felt a crunch. What I thought was white rocks was nothing but shells upon shells upon shells.
We had fun galloping through the salt and fresh water streams, and avoiding the sandy, smushy puddles.
