From camping on the beach to staying at the farm

From Westport we drove up to the abel tasman national park. We booked a two day kayak from the information centre and headed off to pohara (north) where we had booked a night in the backpackers.

the next day we got out kayaks, filled them with tents, sleeping bags, food etc. We had to double kayaks which had loads of space in. It was fun kayaking down the coast, stopping off at a beach for lunch and seeing loads of sea birds and seals around the island.

After a while we realised we had forgotten the lighter and we didn't have any matches! not very prepared! Dobson and I headed off inland on a small track and found a house where we managed to get a lighter. We could now have hot pot noodles for tea!

We reached the beach around fro taopo point and started to put up our tents. It was very pretty, with no other people on it. We enjoyed out pot noodles and tinned pinapple. Wwe then played cards for a bit and went to bed at about 9.30 as we wer very tired and the torches werent working along that well.

In the morning the weather was very sunny. We wandered up to the top of the point to look at the view and packed up our tents. We then headed back along the coast, this time with the wind with us so it didn't take that long. We managed to get really close to some seals swimming around which was cool.

Once back in pohara we had another night in the backpackers. We set of the next morning into the national park a bit further down windy roads. We the went for a walk along this estuary towards the sea, but it didn't last long as we nearly got cut off by the tide!

After lunch we headed towards nelson and Blenhiem where we were staying with Jim and Mary on their farm (friends of wills family). It took us a while to find the farm but once we did we had some nice food and Jim and Mary where very welcoming.

In the morning we chilled out in the garden kicking a ball around and watching the Calv's being injected. In the afternoon Jim took us to the end of the farm, 5 miles down a windy road. Its a huge farm!

This morning we headed south to kaikora and we are going whale watching In about half an hour, so that should be fun.

We are staying with Jim and Mary tonight as well, and then heading to the north island on a boat tomorrow evening!

Hope your all well.

Josh