On the long drive to Nelson, we stop off for a night at Punakaiki the Pancake Rocks. Strange limestone formations which look like (surprisingly) giant stacked pancakes. Suppose the real attraction is the shear size of the area they cover and the (extremely) violent blowhole that has been formed by the wave action.
30th March and we arrive in Nelson for 3 nights. Initially not a place we warm to but soon change our minds. It soon hooks you and you realise the beauty and warmth of the area. Fantastic views and scenery are around every corner and although parts of the town centre are not exactly attractive, it is easy to get around and the sights are easily accessible.
However, we soon realise that we are on the doorstep of the Abel Tasman National Park not somewhere we had planned to visit. After a bit of research and immense help from our hotel concierge, we make plans for an extensive day trip up the coast of the Park.
Catching water taxis (aluminium speedboats that jump over the waves and almost shatter your bones when they land); we traverse the coast stopping off at some of the most stunningly beautiful beaches we have come across. Completely untouched and undeveloped, they are a wonder to see in a time where developers usually win through.
After some fantastic short walks, we can rest on one of the beaches for a couple of hours awaiting our water taxi. Fantastic day!
Finally, our last couple of days in the South Island and we depart for Picton for our ferry across the Cook Strait.
Picton, and especially the drive to get there, turns out to be a little gem much more than just the ferry departure point. Being at the head of the Marlborough Sound, there are walks and sights to equal those in Milford Sound in our opinion.
The 3-hour ferry journey the following day takes us through the Sound confirming this.
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