After hitting paradise beach after paradise beach in Belize, Mexico and Fiji – I can understand that you guys might think: doesn’t he ever get enough of beaches? And yes, I do. But at the same time you get tired of it, it’s also damn nice to spend a day in a place like this. I mean, look at it?!
The south island of New Zealand is famous for it’s many mountains and spectacular highlands, which is my main purpose going here. But on the way south I drove by this place, Abel Tasman, and thought I might just spend a day here since I soon will be spending about 14 days with the mountain goats.
On the ferry from Wellington to the south island I met a Canadian girl, so we traveled together for a couple of days including this paradise look-a-like place. The only thing not remind of paradise might have been the crowds. In paradise, there were only Adam and Eve – but in the main New Zealand holiday season we were not alone, but the NZ-people (called Kiwis) are super friendly so we didn’t mind. That would by the way be my first travel tip in New Zealand: DO NOT go in late December or early January. Everything is more expensive, crowded and hard to find accommodation. So hard I’m sleeping in the car.
We took a boat out to a scenic bay called Anchorage. You who have done you geography homework know that Anchorage is the biggest city in Alaska, but this Anchorage is pretty far both distance and picture wise. On the way out about 50 dolphins “joined” the boat ride. I choose to write join since they were literally one meter from the boat, such a nice experience. They always smile at you and look happy, and that makes it really hard not to smile back.
After half a day at this bay we had a 4 hour hike back to the car and my way further south to the might mountains could finally begin.