Abel Tasman and Motueka

The picture seen below we spotted this view on the way to Motueka:

Hi there peeps,

Yet another blog of the infamous Simone and Elliott’s world tour blog.

The next adventure brought us to Motueka and its natural beauty around (Abel Tasman national park). We arrived and went straight to the info centre as we always do on arrival at some new place. Found a nice/cheap backpacker real near by. Checked it out and deemed it most worthy of our presence. Really cool place with loads of space for camping at the rear of the building area. Also they had free laundry and top quality environment for socializing and making new friends. After setting up the tent, meeting the locals and talking to a load of fruit pickers; we went straight to the washing machines to clean all of our much needed cleaning dirty clothes. We got through 3 washes in a big drum, basically all of our clothes and bedding. That evening we just spent the time talking to the other people in the hostel/caravans (also had some permanent residents residing in caravans).

The morning after we woke up early and talked to the owner of the hostel, who gave us some quality local knowledge of good walks in and around the area. We got our stuff together quick sharp and headed out to do some tramping (kiwi style) in the national park. The drive there was totally mental, it was so windy. Cool driving it but it did feel a little shaky on the car having to turn it so sharply all the time. Nonetheless we made it too the first of the bays for some swimming and lunch. After eating we set off again; again around some totally mental roads, possibly even more mental than those previously driven. The whole drive that day was so scenic, beautiful views and landscapes everywhere you looked (same as the rest of NZ I suppose). We got to the final destination to go on a hefty walk in the park, unscathed I might add. We walked a way before reaching the first bay. We had a quick look around, and then on to the next bay. This bay we thought we may find some of the famous paua shells (amazing shells found on the coast of NZ, cracking colours all around the whole shell, once polished). I went snorkelling looking for some paua while Simone paddled on the beach looking for some pretty shells on the beach. Didn’t find any of the buggers, so we decided to move on to the next bay, which was pretty far but worth it in the end as it was so beautiful. After a walk down one of the best beaches in NZ we made our way back down the dusty track back to the car. In the evening we spent it much the same as the last just chatting with the locals/backpackers.

Below is the picture of me snorkling in Little Kaiteriteri bay:

Simone walking on the beach in Abel Tasman national park:
Upon waking the next day we spoke with the hostel owner about our mission to find paua shells the day before. He felt sorry for us so he said I could take some of his if I liked. Only problem was he used them as ash trays before, so they needed a good clean out. But they look brilliant now, can’t wait to show people back home what they look like. They just amaze Simone and I…

Until the next story

Also some more cool photos:

Simone finds her creek:

Quality wood carving at a sculpture park just outside Abel Tasman (2 most famous gods of Maori culture - earth mother and sky father):

:)