Our first stay on the South Island is in Abel Tasman, more specifically, the town of Takaka. Takaka is the hippie capital of New Zealand. Dinner on our first night was at a place called Dangerous Kitchen. Dreadlocks, hemp skirts and bare feet all over the restaurant. Men were jamming on the piano with a flutist performing interpretive dance and singing…oh there was singing. The food was all organic and very tasty. In fact, most of New Zealand is very healthy with every restaurant catering to gluten free (not so much dairy free, vegetarian or vegan.)
Our first morning in Abel Tasman we woke up and drove to Golden Bay where we hiked through sheep pastures to a beautiful, white sandy beach. The water is aqua blue and wonderful. I practiced my ‘Warrior Three’ pose and this guy tried to show me up with his ‘Up Dog.’
Our first morning in Abel Tasman we woke up and drove to Golden Bay where we hiked through sheep pastures to a beautiful, white sandy beach. The water is aqua blue and wonderful. I practiced my ‘Warrior Three’ pose and this guy tried to show me up with his ‘Up Dog.’
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After the beach Ryan and I played a little cribbage. Then I wrote for the blog while Ryan cooked us dinner on the ‘barbie’. Grass fed ribeye, grilled peppers, sauteed greens and baked potatoes. He finished it off with some yummy grilled peaches.
We are staying at a privately owned rental on a sheep farm. Our view is fantastic and we can hear beautiful birds singing which I’ve never heard before. The cows are mooing and the crickets are amazing. The mosquitoes love Ryan’s blood….high HDL and low triglycerides.... they found themselves a feast.
We are staying at a privately owned rental on a sheep farm. Our view is fantastic and we can hear beautiful birds singing which I’ve never heard before. The cows are mooing and the crickets are amazing. The mosquitoes love Ryan’s blood….high HDL and low triglycerides.... they found themselves a feast.
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On our second day in Abel Tasman, our most favorite day so far, we rented kayaks for the day and kayaked all through Abel Tasman. We paddled by the most beautiful rockery islands with seals bathing on platforms. In one inlet huge Manta Rays sailed underneath our kayaks. Every white sandy beach was isolated and inhabited. We paddled all the way to Separation Point on a secluded beach where we parked our kayak, ate our lunch and hiked five miles up into the mountain. It was the most spectacular hike, experience and day I think I’ve ever been blessed with!!
After five hours exploring we decided to paddle our two hours back to base. In the same bay where we saw the Manta Rays there was no talking to be had. The winds had picked up a little bit and my sergeant would not allow me to talk or take any breaks. Must. Keep. Paddling.
It was phenomenal and I cannot wait to do it again one day soon!! I’m trying to talk Ryan into retiring here one day or at least renting a home for a few months at a time. We will see. I may have to bribe him with more sweaters and socks.
After five hours exploring we decided to paddle our two hours back to base. In the same bay where we saw the Manta Rays there was no talking to be had. The winds had picked up a little bit and my sergeant would not allow me to talk or take any breaks. Must. Keep. Paddling.
It was phenomenal and I cannot wait to do it again one day soon!! I’m trying to talk Ryan into retiring here one day or at least renting a home for a few months at a time. We will see. I may have to bribe him with more sweaters and socks.
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Lastly, I will just leave you with this. Ryan and I left the grocery store and I saw graffiti and free speech at it's best (worst?). Come to find out, it's not graffiti but a company who rents vans with different racy sayings. Wha?!?!? I've seen a few more vans since then, but not quite as racy as this one. Supposedly, there is a lot of backlash from the Kiwi's about the level of inappropo. :)
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