Decided to take a bit of a risk, wrapped myself tightly in my back support, borrowed a walking pole and guzzled several Tramadol kindly donated by our hotel owner (!) and headed off with H a few days ago now to do the Abel Tasman tour day. It was the one and only reason we made a stop in the Nelson region (top left of North Island) so seemed a shame to miss out.
Very glad that I did – the back held out fine and it was a FAB day. Big tick to James Woodhead and various others who recommended it as a Must Do!
Speed boat took us up the coast line of the Abel Tasman park – best turquoise waters we haver seen so far, lovely rocky scenery, various sea birds and apparently two penguins – though they might have been winding me up, as they were a long way off… Zoomed up for about 2 hours, dropping off walkers and keen young people with heavy looking rucksacks and tens on the way (ah, I remember those days….) and then got dropped off ourselves in Torrent Bay.
Walked for 3 hours (yes, me) using the walking pole (definitely a purchase to consider for the future, in a pair I reckon, the time has come..) between bays and over headlands with some cracking views. Plus the wobbling bounce of the 'I'm A Celebrity' style bridge, trying not to drop our phones in the river below as we attempted useless selfies..
Ate the pretty minging blue cheese croissant that H had made for our picnic, sharing it with various Wecas (the local chicken type birds who are shameless, coming out of the bushes silently and stealing crumbs from my shoe – scared the crap out of me).
And ended up on Bark Bay beach for a paddle, snooze in the sun and speedboat back to our very nice hotel, Wairepo House. Owned by major apple and peony grower, so we learned quite a lot about all that too, including how they employ lots of Tongans to help boost the economy back there. And kept dutifully scoffing the many different variants of apples they left in our fridge, sweet.
Best thing for me was possibly still the Monday morning pre-flight trip to the Urgent care Nurse in Motueka – a half hour consultation and massive bag of new drugs – Tramadol, Diazepam, Paracetamol, Voltarol etc etc – all that cost a mere £65. Cheaper than 6 x prescriptions at home! So, more confident now that I am fully rattling again and have 19 tablets to take per day. Ah the joys..
Now in Queenstown – more from here when the week's activities continue.. x