The South island of New Zealand has a lot to offer. We struggled deciding what to see in the two weeks we allocated to explore this place. There are towering mountains that surround peaceful sounds in the south and hug the rugged western coastline. Those were our targets – we’d start in the north and head west to explore the coast and then inland to explore the mountains and the natural beauty of the fjords in the southwest.
Nelson was our first destination. While the Nelson-Tasman region has the most annual sunshine of the entire country, we arrived in the rain. The Nelson-Tasman region has long been a magnet for creative people; as a result, we found plenty of galleries and wineries to explore.
Able Tasman Charters hosted us on our first adventure, and it was awesome! They met us on the beach at Stephens Bay. We rolled up our pants, climbed into the waiting zodiac, and took the short ride out to the waiting boat to start our day. Their website says it all… “If you’ve only got one day to enjoy the Abel Tasman, why choose what you want to do? Take ‘The Best Abel Tasman Day Trip’ with Abel Tasman Charters and cruise, swim, kayak, bush walk along some of the Coastal Track (one of New Zealand’s Great Walks), experience the coastline, see the wildlife, learn about the environment and ecology of the area.”
We saw seals, birds, dolphins and beautiful islands. Split Apple Rock was one of the first and most interesting sites. The crew, Captain Rob and his son, Angus, were patient and helpful at getting us in the best position for photos throughout the trip. With only six passengers, we had nearly unlimited flexibility in going where we wanted and staying as long as we wanted. We headed up the coast, stopping briefly off Adele Island, a bird sanctuary before continuing on. Along the way we relaxed and watched the seals in the water. Before breaking for lunch, Julie and I took our sea kayak and paddled into Bark Bay with John and Carol Brewer. It was a nice spot, so Julie and I hauled the kayak up onto a beach and hiked around the area for a bit before heading back for lunch on the boat.
The seal colony at Tonga Island was where we turned back south, but not before drifting offshore to watch the seals sunning themselves on the rocks. 
Along the way back we took the opportunity to walk through one of the most diverse coastal bush tracks on the Pitt Head Nature Loop. The hike was fun, but the views were amazing!
After the hike, Captain Rod was waiting for us on the beach to transfer us back to the catamaran. We continued south, now retracing our course from the morning’s cruise. Before we knew it, we were back at Stephens Bay off-loading onto the beach. We’d had a great time exploring the waters and the coast of the Able Tasman National Park.
If you’re looking for a great view of the Able Tasman National Park from the water, or if you’re just looking to have a fantastic day on a boat, I highly recommend Able Tasman Charters.
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New Zealand’s South Island – West Coast
New Zealand’s North Island and Auckland
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