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Arriving in Picton, we checked into Atlantis Backpackers and brought our bags into our 24 bed dorm (a record I think – it wasn’t as bad as it sounded though, with all the beds sectioned off well). The next morning, Ciara, myself and Claire set off to walk the first part of the Queen Charlotte Track. It is a really nice walk, especially on a sunny day like we had. We stopped for a picnic at one of the small coves. It is possible to do the entire walk over 3 or 4 days, including some nights camping and it’s something I’d like to come back to do in New Zealand.

Another day in Picton so we did the snout track walk – a couple of hours along the headland, and then went to the cinema as we were hanging around for the ferry to Wellington that evening. The ferry crossing was grand that evening and we the YHA hostel without any trouble, then headed straight to bed.

Abel Tasman National Park is part of the coastline at the north of the south Island. It is made up of white sandy beaches, the well maintained Coastal Track walkway, basic campsites and lots of sand-flies and mosquitoes!

Four of us decided to do a 2 night/3 day walking/kayaking trip. The first morning we drove to Marahau where we met a water taxi to bring us up the coast to near the end of the park at Totranui Bay. From here we hiked to our first campsite in Awaroa. It was a tough hour and a half as we had to carry all our camping gear and food. Due to a mix up at the information centre, we had expected our bags to be transferred for us and so had packed everything we wanted but it then turned out we had to carry it all ourselves!

After setting up the tents, we went for a well deserved sleep at the beach before strolling up to the only cafe on the beach for coffee and cake. When we got back to the campsite, it was dinner time so out came the gas stove to cook up our pasta/chorizo/tomato feast! Everything tastes better outdoors, although the onset of mosquitos was not so pleasant.

The mosquito army continued to increase in numbers and by sunset we had to dive into the tent to try and avoid getting bitten. They buzzed outside the tent all night but luckily none had gotten inside where we were sleeping.

The next morning, we left the campsite at 8am after a breakfast of porridge and fruit. Again it was hard going walking with all the gear and we were all quite tired when we reached the Ohanui Bay to start kayaking at 10am. Our Canadian guide Sally met us here and we had a lovely day cruising along the coast, going in and out, around different inlets.

We finished up kayaking around half three so after bringing all the gear to the campsite (It had been transported down by water taxi while we kayaked) we spent the afternoon on the beach, swimming and sunbathing. That night, after dinner (another pasta extravaganza) we went down to the caves at the end of the beach to see the glow worms – very cute!

The next morning, we were able to leave our gear with the water taxi before starting a walk to bring us back to Marahau at the entrance of the park. Bag-free it was much more enjoyable and we got a great view of all the bays along the way as we went along the Coastal Track. Back in Nelson that evening, it was a time for a well deserved fish and chips.

From San Gil, all nine of us got a bus to Santa Marta up on the north coast and then on to Taganga, a small fishing village nearby. After we checked into La Case de Felipe we all walked down for breakfast and realised quickly how hot it is here! The day was spent at the beach and later a great meal at the hostel – a French chef works in the restaurant there so it was delicious steak all round!

The next day we went back to Santa Marta, with plans to go to Tyrona National Park the next morning. Now, we weren’t quite prepared for it. First of all it was lashing rain all morning so were totally soaked getting on the bus. Then, not thinking clearly, half of us were wearing flip flops, having been told we would be able to avoid the trek in and get horses. But, by the time we got to the bus (had to walk, actually wade through streets full of water) it was too late for the horses so we had to walk! We started walking in the flip flops, not the most sensible, then had to ditch them when the mud got too much – we’re talking mid calf level and I’m sure there was horse poo mixed in with it! So, when we eventually got to our campsite, it was quite a relief as it was nearly dark aswell but it was worth it! A delicious meal of sweet bread (most bread has sugar in it here, not the most appetising) and tuna that we had brought for lunch along with fried bananna chips – you get lots of them here, actually quite tasty!

The beaches are beautiful there, really postcard perfect. We slept in hammocks for two nights – all nine of us in a row! Not as romantic as you would think when you get woken up by a donkey in the middle of the night! But it was really cool, falling asleep listening to the water (the first night) or buckets of rain (the second night).