Tuesday 20 September 2011

Abel Tasman National Park - Golden Bay

18 - 19 Sept 2011

The day has finally come!!! My 2-month working in Talleys seafood ended with kick starting my first day of South Island trip. I started from the Cape Farewell, the south island's northernmost point.  



Drive to Puponga (North of Collingwood) and head west down the gravel road until it runs out. You then have to walk over farmland to get to this Wharariki Beach.



It boasts one of the most superlative coastal landscape found anywhere, where the actions of wind and wave have resulted massive rock and sand dune formation


Farewell Spit is a narrow sand spit at the nothern end of the south island of New Zealand. It runs eastwards from Cape Farewell, the island's northernmost point. It is the longest sandspit in New Zealand stretching for about 26km above sea level and another 6km underwater.

Golden Bay is separated by the sea by the farewell spit


Te Waikoropupu Springs, also called Pupu Springs was one of my most unforgettable scene I have seen in my entire life so far. The springs are known for the clarity of the water and the volume of water discharged.

Its water clarity makes it to be the second only to sub-glacial water in the Antartic. 

We stayed one night at Takaka and at here, we came to Anatoki Salmon Farm to fish salmons on our own and have their chef to smoke the fish for us. For more info, http://www.anatokisalmon.co.nz/


Out of my expectation, I caught the first two salmons easily. It was my first time fishing. I didn't have any idea on how to manage the rod.


The entry is free. I do not quite remember the price for the fish (should be over 20 dollars per kg). Most important is that you only pay for what you catch and have them prepare the fish for free.  Here I  smoked my two fish with different flavors and had another one just be filleted to be cooked myself. We finished one whole freshly smoked salmon each in the farm. What a wonderful life!!!


You can never miss Abel Tasman National Park if you are travelling around golden bay. You can walk, kayak or even join cruise here. If you are fancy to try all of them, it is possible to combine them. For more information, please visit http://www.abeltasman.co.nz

pic: Kaiteriteri Beach

I picked "The Great Day Out" which appears to be the most popular one. It started with a cruise with spectacular granite coast from Kaiteriteri to Totaranui, view the Tonga Island seals and include a 2 hour walk exploring the national park.


pic: Apple Split Rock



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