It's a small world after all: New Zealand South Island From Picton to Able Tasmin

We have landed!

The journey looked a bit like this

As soon as we landed in Picton we wanted to get something booked for the next day. The Queen Charlotte track seemed like the place to start to see more of the beautiful Sound. We decided to do the full day walk meaning we needed to be on the boat at 8am the next morning, from there we were taken to a bird sancturary Motuara Island you walk up to the top of the island to get a birds eye view pardon the pun of the Marlabourgh Sound wow.

Then we were picked up by boat and taken the short jump to the start of the Queen Charlotte Track. Its tough but worth it. At over 15km (not including the bird sanctuary) you start the trek with a hour and a half climb it just keeps going. Dirt tracks steep hills and 30+ degree heat what a view though!

Then you start to come down you head all the way down to the first bay and then realise you have another two hills left only 10km to go. I promise the beer at the end was one of the best of my life.

Then with tired legs we took the boat back to Picton and drove the windy road to Havlock.

From there we headed for the Able Tasmin National Park. It is a really cool place marine reserves, thick forest and national park that spans as far as you can see. We were keen to get out on the water as soon as possible so hit the kayaks and went to see some seals. They are so cute there was loads of pups at this time of year taking their first swim and they didnt look to keen to take the first leap.

There is so much to see in Able Tasmin beautiful beaches, split apple rock, walks boats and wildlife

We continued to head further up the coast through golden bay and this took us to over Takaka Hill. Norman is not a hill loving van, he's more of a long straight flat kind of van so taking on mountains is always an adventure. The slow lane is my friend and I often have to pull over to let people with good cars pass me. Its sometimes so slow I swear we are going backwards. Downhill though! Colin McRae watch out here I come ha ha.

Half way up Takaka Hill is the turn off for Howards Hole. You clamber for a few kms over bolders into the forest and then get as close as you dare to the edge of the drop to the cave. There is a lookout if you take the hike to the top its a bit of a boulder clamber but really cool for epic views over the whole valley.

Getting there is interesting a winding dirt pot hole filled road snakes up a steep verge with dead drops on one side and rocks on the other. Its definately one lane well...until its not and someone is coming towards you when I passed someone there was half an inch room between my tyres and the edge.

Takaka is a small hippy town in the Golden Bay life here has its own pace and vibe. We slept under a bridge in a freedom capsite set up Norman for the night and when the farmer came round to warn us that the river (so far away from where we were and not a cloud in the sky at this point) could flood we didnt take much notice. Lessons were learned always listen to farmers chances are they know more than you. So at 6am and almost knee deep in water we made our escape from the river.

Norman may not do great on hills but he is surprisingly good in water!

In the morning we headed for the river and some eel feeding yeah you read that right we fed and petted wild river eels and they loved it. You buy some salmon, head to the river and flick your fingers in the water and then like 30 eels apear and wiggle up on the rocks to see you and get fed. Its so strange but really fun.

and pigs they had a wee happy pig aww

This is also where I caught my first salmon as you can see it was a monster and we wrestled for hours in an epic battle to the death. Which I eventually won.

Even though its a tiddler and I have had loads of rippings for how its more like bait than salmon it tasted great you basically pay for what you catch per kg (for me this was great news advantages of the small fish) and they smoke it for you.

From there we were off to the top of the south island to see Farewell Spit and Whakari Beach. Whakari beach wins best New Zealand beach for me there were so many caves to explore we even found a huge seal sleeping in one of them so we took some photos and left him to his nap. Quiet, soft sand, nice waves crashing next to you its a really nice spot.

The weather found us again and we stayed up here for a few days to get shelter from the storm. The rain was insane it just didnt stop. We settled in made friends with the camp locals ducks this time and three families of peacocks.

A break in the weather and we were off again and heading towards the west coast with a few quick stops on the way. First up was the sacred waters. These are the clearest waters in the world and are sacred to the Maori people.