Day 154 Nelson-Te Pukatea Bay, New Zealand

Wahay adventure time or so we initially thought.
I woke up early so I could rearrange my rucksack for the camping trip and to sort out what I would be leaving in the car. We set off on the drive to the start of the Abel Tasman track where Simon and Jill would drop Dennis and myself off so we could pick up our kayaks. The kayak company told us the previous day that they opened up at 8.30am and that was it. Well we arrived around 10.30am and as soon as Dennis started talking to this woman I knew there were problems. They actually wanted us to turn up at 8.30am where we would then have to waste half a day kayaking with instructors before we would be allowed to venture out alone. What a complete balls up by them.
They then tried to make things better by offering us the chance to kayak tomorrow which wasn’t possible because we already had campsites booked in advance and I had cancelled my accommodation in the hostel I was originally staying in. Dennis and myself then had a chat and said sod the kayak company and that we would instead walk the entire route, all 51km of it in the 3.5 days.
The first days walking to Te Pukatea Bay was absolutely amazing and the shape of things to come. The beaches were amazing and the sun was shining and we couldn’t ask for anything more. Once we reached the first campsite right next to the beach we had been walking for 5 and a half hours and there were only 2 other tents here for the night. We got the tent pitched and Dennis cooked one of his speciality meals and after that I went for a walk over to a lookout point and then settled in my sleeping bag about 9pm.

Te Pukatea Bay, Abel Tasman

Te Pukatea Bay, Abel Tasman

Te Pukatea Bay, Abel Tasman