Microblog

Walked through a monotonous landscape on Farewell Spit, a sandbar near where we’re staying. Unseen by us were big numbers: it’s the longest sandbar on Earth (16 miles); the sea recedes up to 4 miles at low tide; this month, bar-tailed godwits will migrate 7,500 miles to Alaska.

Walked the beach yet again. Each time it’s different.

Walked through a subtropical forest in the footsteps of 19th century gold miners in nearby Kahurangi National Park. It’s New Zealand’s second-largest national park, one of the least-visited, and slightly off the beaten path; a good choice for B-list travelers.

Domestic duties done.

As we walked, the beach slowly disappeared under the rising tide.

Drove on the left on slow roads to Golden Bay in the far northwest of New Zealand’s South Island. We’ll chill for a week in an isolated VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner) cabin.

A regularly scheduled catamaran appeared to take us along the coast and out of Abel Tasman National Park.

Today, Dwight took charge of the point-and-shoot. While he tested the limits of the lens with vegetation he found interesting, I stared wistfully out at the Tasman Sea, or focused on a leaf, sometimes realizing how good it was to be in the moment.

Our splurge is three nights at Abel Tasman National Park, staying in the lodge, enjoying the trails and local food. Green-shelled mussels from The Marlborough Sounds with fresh pasta, salad veggies from the lodge’s gardens, Pinot Gris from nearby Nelson.

Green shadow of tree fern on trail. Abel Tasman National Park.

Rode a scheduled bus, carrying mainly backpackers, for the two-hour journey to Nelson, the second-oldest settled city in New Zealand. Over the next twelve days we’ll explore the northwest corner of the South Island by foot, boat, and car.

Continued our walk, another seven hours along the ridge to the end of the Queen Charlotte Track.

Hiked seven hours on a well-designed and maintained trail along a ridge separating Kenepuru Sound and Queen Charlotte Sound. Sometimes we saw Kenepuru, sometimes Queen Charlotte, sometimes both.

View from our A-frame, Punga Cove, Marlborough Sound, half-way through our hike.

Posted A Week in Honolulu.

After dropping us off at the trailhead for our multi-day, 72 km hike, the boat proceeded along Queen Charlotte Sound to deliver these essential supplies to Furneaux Lodge, our home for the next two nights.