I get up early to explore the surrounding wilderness. Firstly, there are the grounds of an old hotel now demolished, which is now full of raised timber. Secondly, we all go for a walk through some derelict mining tunnels immersed in the forest. The rock faces are now coloured decoratively by moss on the outer edges and internally by minerals deposited by the seeping water.
On the coastal road towards Greymouth, we follow an immaculate seventies Chrysler Continental, which is in turn following a similarly aged but spotless Cadillac. Kiwis do like their old cars. Another oddity on the road later on is a modestly statured two floor wooden cottage built on the back of a truck. Perhaps caravanning wouldn’t seem so uncool if they were all like this. It brings to mind the old woman in a shoe nursery rhyme.
We stop on the coast at Pancake Rocks, aka Punaiki. The rocks are so called because the rocks tower up with the appearance of stacked layers and geologists are unsure of their origin. This is also the site of spectacular blow holes, but we are too early for high tide to catch them at their peak.
From here, we drive up to Abel Tasman National Park, the moniker coming from the Dutch Explorer who was the leader of the first European expedition to discover New Zealand. We stop at Marahau, a seaside village a half hour drive from Motueka, the main town on the south side of Abel Tasman.
We camp at the commercial site. We are told that all the tourist related operations here are all owned by one family. I would guess the family would make a very good living from all the tours and activities available here, but the house near the campsite with a post box marked with the family’s name is a modest bungalow with a pick-up parked behind it.
I book a half day sea kayak tour for tomorrow at the campsite office, and a water taxi will speed me back across the bay. The girls book a water taxi and walking tour.
Tonight I am cooking, using the campsite cooking facilities. While Mary has done all her cooking stints outdoors, often in the cold and rain, we have agreed that we will stay in more comfortable accommodation than the DoC campsites every three days, which conveniently coincides with my cooking turns.
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