Picton - Nelson - Abel Tasman

Trip Start May 18, 2006

Trip End Ongoing

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Where I stayed

The Paradiso Hostel

Flag of New Zealand Picton - Nelson - Abel Tasman, New Zealand
Sunday, November 5, 2006

We head out early on the bus for Picton a small town at the top of the North Island; Susi and I decide not to stay there (very, very small town with only wine tours to keep us busy) but instead to catch an intercity bus with Karl to Nelson so that we have more time to explore the Abel Tasman national park.
The ride is breath taking is we drive through steep valleys, around 3pm we arrive in Nelson to our Hostel, The Paradiso is fab - it has hammocks, swings, pool, spa, Jacuzzi and cool little balconies inside with cushions to watch tv and movies. Susi and I make the most of it that evening and chill out before heading out to the Abel Tasman early in the morning.

The bus takes us through many fruit groves and vineyards before we head further into the rainforest - we are dropped at Marahau where we jump on a boat to Torrens bay. The hike we are doing is only accessible by boat which is understandable as we get there - it's paradise. Even though the weather isn't glorious it doesn't make a bit of difference to the scenery - there are white secluded beaches with rain forest towering over it. As we walk we bump into many backpackers who are camping out here - which makes Susi and I feel like very pathetic backpackers indeed!
It takes us around 5 hours in all to hike back to the town and it starts to rain quite hard as we get there and it doesn't stop...

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