Hello, another week has flown by here in New Zealand.

My 'tramp' to Abel Tasman was great! I had a really super time. I took a coach up to the start of the Coastal Track at a place called Marahau early last tuesday morning, and hired a sleeping bag at the visitor centre - it was a bit of a chunky old thing but I managed to tie it to the top of my rucksack with a bit of rope. I had decided to do the first two sectors of the route in one day so I sure hiked a long way that day - about 26 kms! The route was amazing though, I crossed loads of small bridges over creeks and gullies, through quite dense pine and beech forest, up to some peaks with amazing views of the coast and islands - the beaches are stunning, white sand and crystal clear water. The route went in and out of several valleys and crossed a beautiful inlet over Falls River via a 47m suspension bridge that bounced in the middle! The path was very well marked but pretty quite - I went for a few hours without seeing anyone which was a bit eery. The second day's walk was easier, through some long patches of manuka trees and along deserted beaches for quite a while which was nice. I got my timing right and got to a tidal crossing point bang on low tide. The weather was great all morning although after I stopped for lunch it clouded over and within about 30 minutes it started to rain. I sped up and was so lucky as seconds after I reached Awaroa Hut, where I was stopping for the night, it started to pour! It rained non-stop for the rest of the evening so I was so greatful to be inside!

I stayed in 2 huts along the way - they're like wooden cabins with 2 bedrooms and an indoor area with wooden benches and tables. The bedrooms had these really high bunks that you climbed up to in the rafters of the roof - just wooden floors with plastic matresses - they were so cool. The huts didn't have any electricity or lighting but I really loved their simplicity and location - in a small clearing just beside the beach. Fotunately there was a gas heater in the first and and a log burner in the second hut, so they were nice and cosy. I decided not to rent a cooker in the end so munched my way though Kit Kat Chunkys, Cadbury's 'energy' chocolate bars, Peanut Brunch Bars and Oreos (which I'm now quite addicted to) mmm...I savoured every bite :)

The third day I hung around with some others trampers at the Hut till about midday when the tide was low enough to make the final tidal crossing at Awaroa Estuary, although we still ended up wading for quite a way up to our knees - and the water was freezing! Great fun though. I reached a beautiful beach at Totaranui and got a water taxi back to the start - with lovely views of the coast. I feasted at Subway on the way back, and raided a supermarket for washing powder and shower gel - I looked a bit of a tramp with all my smelly gear but it was soon smelling wonderful!

I met some really great people at the huts, most far more professional than me and so I have picked up some tramping tips and am making plans to do some more tramps now, although I think I'd better invest in a cooker next time.

Since my trip I've been back job hunting in Nelson, buying some Christmas presents (its a bit early but I want to make the cheap post date - 23rd November!). I went and stocked up on fruit and veg at the saturday morning market (to make up for my chocolate extravaganza), went to a farmers market, and watched NZ beat Bahran and make it though to the World Cup next year - yipee! Also, I had an interview for a job in an outdoor shop, and today I have just had some good news - I got the job - yipee! I'm not totally sure of the hours, I hope there are enough so that I can cover my accommodation costs, but I'm going to continue looking for part time work in the meantime, and also see if I can find a room spare somewhere in Nelson - my 6-bed dorm in the hostel is getting a bit chaotic now! But I'm very pleased about the job so I think I'll go a celebrate with some, mmm...Oreos..no...resist!

Grace xx