Abel Tasman National Park - 1

G and Boris

View from Pukeko Cottage

When we arrived in Marahau and turned into the driveway for Pukeko Cottage, we were pleased to see two pukekos on the grass in front of us.  We learned later that a pair is nesting and have two chicks on the small island in the pond that we see from our deck.  Our cottage is on an organic farm.  They grow kiwi fruit, plums, apples, and pears here.  They also have chickens and two huge pigs, Boris and Thelma.  Thelma gave birth to 14 piglets last night. There is a nectar feeder outside our bedroom window.  The tuis come and drink from the feeder and sing lovely songs from the tree.

Today we visited Split Apple Rock beach - a small beach down a steep slope near Marahau.  Split Apple Rock is a well-photographed site often seen among pictures for Abel Tasman National Park.

Split Apple Rock

With the weather report telling us we were in for wind and rain this afternoon, we decided to get an early start.  We walked to Appletree Bay from the start of the Abel Tasman Track – about 3 hours return.  Along the way we saw several coveys of California quail.  One covey looked as if the chicks were only 3 days old – very tiny and cute, scurrying here and there at their parents’ direction to hide from us. 

California quail

Since Abel Tasman National Park’s main walking track is on its coast, most people either backpack and camp or they take water taxies to the sections that they want to hike or kayak.  We decided to walk from Onetahuti to Torrent Bay.  The water taxi is an experience in itself.  The speedboats are loaded on a boat trailer that is pulled by large tractor.  People are loaded on to the boats, and the tractor drives the boat passengers and all to the sea. 

Water taxi pick-up

Water taxi being pulled ashore by the tractor

The water taxi started the trip by circling Split Apple Rock.  Then we sped to the marine reserve to view the protected wildlife on Tonga Island.  We saw many female New Zealand fur seals with their young pups.

New Zealand fur seals with pups

After disembarking, we walked south.  The views were spectacular along the trail.

After 5 hours, we reached Torrent Bay and since it was low tide we decided to walk further south by crossing the mudflats to Anchorage. We had to take our shoes off to cross several streams of the incoming tide.  This was great fun and felt wonderful on our tired feet.  This was definitely one of our favorite walks, and we plan to do other sections of this trail.  

Walking the mud-flats to Anchorage