Able Tasman National Park

Dear all

As the area is still without internet access and only has intermittant mobile signals I am writing this up on wordpad in the hope I can post these soon. The news this morning was that the epicentre had been identified as Lyttleton - on the burbs of Christchurch on the way to Akaroa. That and the fact that the quake was only 5km deep meant that this time the damage was way worse than last September. The tunnel at Lyttleton collapsed in a few places  & the large 26 storey hotel next to the cathedral was so badly damaged that all the tourists had to sleep in the park - in the rain.

However they have now reviewed the deathtoll to 39 from yesterdays 65 as they had found a number of trapped people alive and pulled them from the wreckage. Still there are 300 missing including quite a number from Japan and the Philipines.  Our hopes and prayers go out to all those caught up in this terrible disaster.

Feeling a little helpless and somewhat removed from these events we carried on with our plans despite it being the topic of conversation on everyones lips. As we spent last night in Marahau we decided to walk the first part of the great Abel Tasman Coastal walk down to Appletree bay. The walk is amazing right through native bush overlooking beautiful golden beaches and coves which you can walk down to and relax along the route.

The coast is also frequented by loads of people on kayak's as the water is beautifully calm and shifting shades of turquoise/green/cyan.  During our walk the weather was fabulous, but as we crossed the estuary boardwalk back to the carpark dark clouds started to appear over the hills so we ducked in to Fat Tui's for lunch. Dean had the most enormous burger full of salad, egg, pineapple, beetroot and a huge home made burger. I had fush n chups (as they call it here!)

The heavens opened as we ate, but as is typical in NZ by the time we had finished the rain had gone and blue sky was peaking through the clouds. We then journeyed up over the Takaka Hills to the most northern point of the Island and on to Wharariki beach which is a huge cresent bay of golden sand, surrounded by large swirling sand dunes & punctuated by huge wave and windswept rocks.

Once the tide has reached its low point the large rocks have rock pools aAll too soon the sun was setting and we had to leave but it was a magical end to a magical day.

round them and young seal pups come down the rocks to play in these 'safe' areas. They were fascinating to watch as they frollocked in and out of the water and posed for us. The slightest unfamiliar noise sent them scuttling up the rocks to the safety of their tiny cave.  As all youngsters they were also incredibly curious and often swam up really close to us and checked us out!

Thanks for looking (when you do get to look!)