Thursday 29 May 5pm ferry from Wellington to Picton.
A calm crossing of the strait, bantering with the other team going to Nelson lakes comparing trip altitudes. Driving to Hans and Mika’s place from Picton to Nelson. Sleeping over in comfort in their home on Thursday night.
Friday 30 May 2014 – Marahau to Bark Bay (7-8 hours walking, 24.5km)
Friday morning after breakfast Hans and Mika drove us to Marahau on our start of the track. It was not long before the camera equipment came out and the photo taking began, hardly surprising considering such beautiful scenery of estuary and bird life with more to follow. A wide and comfortable track with frequent stops along the way with ample time to admire the bush and sit on sandy beaches, our highest climb about 400 metres. Our lunch stop was at Anchorage exploring the hut with all its mod cons. Then a continuation on to Bark Bay hut where other fellow trampers had started the fire and Phil the Hut caretaker greeted us. After bagging a bunk and exploring the surrounds, a hot drink and prepping for dinner our first meal was a very tasty beef stroganoff. We rubbed shoulders in the hut with some interesting characters and would see some of them as we progressed along the track.
Saturday 31 May 2014 – Bark Bay to Awaroa (4 hours walking, 11.4 km)
The following morning half the team (Spencer, Brendan, Gareth, Beccy) were up early, cameras at the ready to see in the sunrise; it was going to be another glorious day. After breakfast we headed off and made our way through bush, up and down coves with spectacular scenery. We lunched and snacked on beaches along the way, some of us taking dips in the ocean and others wading along the shore. Brendan had a lucky find at Cleopatra’s pool, Spencer had his tripod and camera equipment out to get some special river shots. Around Tonga Quarry there was evidence of granite formations and along the track we could feel the crunch of powdered granite under our boots – great traction but hardly necessary with such beautiful weather and well formed track. Awaroa hut was lively with other trampers and various accents. After a tasty middle eastern type dinner we headed for the fire with our sticks and marshmallows to make S’mores with chocolate biscuits. A briefing before bed on our early start to cross the estuary at low tide the next day.
Sunday 1st June 2014 – Awaroa to Whariwharangi (5 hours walking, 13 km)
The alarm went off at 6am and we all jumped up rearing to go, packed up quickly, a quick mouthful of something and headed off at 6.20am. Some other trampers had set off before us and we could see their lights but they seemed to be a bit off track on their navigation tracking, but they soon got back on track. Gareth and Jenn had their compasses out and a perfect crossing was made with a chilly stream crossing in the middle which seemed to last a long time but all in all the crossing took only 15-20 minutes. A quick change of footwear, head torches still on, into the bush for a rapid walk to the beach where the billy was brewed and a hot drink and breakfast had while watching a glorious sunrise with wispy mist on the sea – cameras at the ready. We headed off up through bush admiring nikau palms, down into coves and beautiful unpopulated beaches. More dips into the water, lunch on the beach, possible siting of a distant penguin by Brendan – but alas no it flew off so not this time.
We saw a weka in the bushes by the beaches and regaled stories of their love of collecting items. Garth initiated a gymnastic balancing challenge on a log and Gareth took first prize with Spencer coming a close second. We took a slight detour to Separation Point (just under 400 metres) to check out the fur seals sunbathing on the rocks and admire the view from the light house. Another possible siting of a penguin by Brendan – but not this time either as it flew away. A bit more of a walk and we arrived at our hut – a quaint historic farmhouse originally built in 1896 (restored in 1980) which was our final resting place that night. We met down on the beach for a final dusky sunset and boiled the billy for a pre-dinner drink and the ever handy camera gear. Not too much lingering down on the beach as it got chilly quickly and our thoughts turned to our dinner – creamy mashed potato and spicy shepherds pie with cake and silky custard to follow. We chatted with our fellow trampers and swapped stories. Jane mentioned seeing a weka and a possum, so a strategy was devised to keep boots safe from being dragged off to weka burrows.
Monday 2nd June 2014 – Wariwharangi to Wainui (1.5 hours walking, 5.5 km)
A leisurely start and breakfast, boots still in tact. Brendan managed to get a photo of a fur seal swimming about in the bay. We leisurely climbed up to our highest altitude of just under about 450 metres and commented on the lovely views as we slowly made our way down to Wainui and where Hans and Mika had parked the van. A quick change of clothes and off we went, stopping along the way for a snack and some real coffee. We met Hans and Mika at Marahau, and then drove on to have lunch at Toad Hall. A farewell to Hans and Mika at their home and off we drove to Picton. We caught up with the Nelson lakes trip, and swapped stories as the ferry smoothly crossed the strait into Wellington.
A spectacular Abel Tasman trip – faultless with perfect weather and great company.