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Abel Tasman was beautiful. After chilling out on the first day on the golden sand at 'Split Apple Rock', some sunbathing and swimming in the sea (with a quite large ray!), the second day was a water taxi ride (with the usual 'tour-guide' style comentry from the driver about the history of Abel Tasman and the area) to Bark Bay, and a lovely coastal walk back along the track to the village. Next day was a freedom kayak around the bays and islands on a clear calm sea swimming in the sea at lunchtime, soaking up the sun and spotting rays in the shallows on the way home.
A day in Nelson was spent watching street performers with pretty spectacular tricks, and a long hot walk to the apparently geographical centre of New Zealand.
Dropping the car off in Picton to catch the ferry to Wellington, the three hour crossing spent watching day one of the International Seven's and starting the party with a Speights or two!
Fish and chips and a bit of bar hoping, watching games and having a drink, amazed and entertained by the costumes. It was clear from the off that the 7's in Wellington is a big big party!
Costumes were in abundance on day two, right from breakfast. Watching games over lunch, and in the evening and the street party slowly got underway. Big screen on Courtenay Place, England won the bowl, then New Zealand took the cup and the party was away. Wellington know how to party and the atmosphere was fantastic, dancing in the street, costumes everywhere - people dressed as anything and everything,; bananas, powerade bottles, ghostbusters, the flintstones, 4 guys were even dressed as a yellow submarine!
After exhausting the streets of Wellington until the early hours, another car pick-up and drive to National Park for the Tongariro Crossing. Walking between Mount Tongariro and the larger Mount Ngauruhoe (2291m) with volcanic rock underfoot in a cold cold wind. Cloudy at the top so no views of shapely Ngauruhoe, but beautiful blue and emerald lakes on the way down. Mountain biking the 42nd Traverse today, very challenging, partly due to tiredness from the crossing yesterday. Uphills were hard and the track was gravely, but there were awesome downhill sections! Afternoon relax in the spa, and off back to Juno's tomorrow to repack and get ready for the next leg...
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