New Zealand > Kayaking in Abel Tasman N.P.

At eight o’clock we drive onto the premises of Abel Tasman Kayaks. We have booked a kayak tour in Abel Tasman National Park. We are immediately introduced to Balwi, our guide for today, who is of Indian descent. He has been living in New Zealand for four years now. He hopes to stay longer, but he still has no certainty about this. We order coffee with a muffin and wait for the other kayakers. We will head out to sea with a group of eight—an international mix. Besides the Netherlands and India, there are people from Ireland, Germany, the USA, Korea, and New Zealand itself. In addition to our group, there are five other small groups. It turns out we will first go kayaking and then hike back through the park. The original booking was the other way around. The advantage of the new arrangement is that we have all the time we want to walk back. The disadvantage, as we’ve heard from other travelers, is that on the way out we will have the wind against us. Balwi gives a detailed explanation about kayaking and what to do if the boat capsizes. He also explains how to store our backpacks to keep them dry.

New Zealand - Kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park

The trickiest part is getting in. The front paddler sits down in the kayak while the second person steadies the boat. Then the second person gets in while the first holds the kayak steady against the waves. After that, it’s a matter of paddling through the first waves. Once past the initial stretch, the sea becomes calmer. As expected, the wind is against us—and it’s quite a strong wind. As we paddle out, we quickly leave the rest of the group behind. Balwi calls us back to keep the group together. We paddle along the beaches of the national park, which is a beautiful sight. Kelly and Sophie struggle to get their kayak moving forward. Balwi asks if we would like to swap partners. Allert continues with Sophie, and I paddle with Kelly. This makes the group more balanced. Because of the wind, the trip to the observation beach takes longer than usual. It’s past noon by the time we arrive, having paddled more than seven kilometers over the sea. The group that will paddle the kayaks back is already waiting on the beach. Balwi quickly spreads out a large mat and serves lunch. Together with both groups, we enjoy the meal. While it was still cloudy this morning, now the sky is bright blue. The sun is strong, so before we start walking, I put on plenty of sunscreen. Meanwhile, Balwi explains to the new group how to handle the kayaks. We start our hike back. The walking trail through Abel Tasman National Park runs along the beaches.

New Zealand - Clear blue seawater in Abel Tasman National Park

I had expected we would be walking on the sand itself, but that turns out not to be the case. The trail lies high above the beaches, and at each beach there is a path leading down. From up here, we have views of the intensely blue sea everywhere we look. Each view is spectacular. It’s hardly worth taking photos—what we see simply can’t be captured in a picture. It’s better to just enjoy it in the moment. At the Lookout Point, we see various groups of kayakers paddling on the sea. The bright yellow and red boats against the blue water make for a beautiful scene. At Apple Tree Beach, we pause in the shade for a while. A few young people are preparing to spend the night here, which must be an amazing experience. After about three hours of walking, we arrive back at the park entrance. We head straight into the first restaurant we see for a beer—we’ve definitely earned it. We decide to order a pizza as well, so we won’t have to go out again tonight. Around six o’clock we are back at our apartment in Kaikerikeri. I can feel how tired I am after such a demanding day. I read for a while and go to bed early.