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A pitch black start at 620 with a 1.5 hour drive up to Abel Tasmin National Park to start our day out.
Garth had booked an aqua taxi from Marahau up to Torrent Bay. The way it worked is that the main building and car park were slightly in land. We all checked in there before a tractor arrived pulling a boat on wheels. We all got onto our boats there and had a shot tractor pull to the sea. We thought the tractors would back us in and drop us off so to speak, but the didn't, they drive us straight in!! Was quite fun seeing tractors drive around in the sea!!
The speed boat them kicked in and I have been on small fast boats before (the Bastellica Islands) but not a proper speed boat. When it turned a corner it felt as though we would roll right over! And we were so close to the water slashing up but weren't getting wet! What a rush!
We drive round a hill to see the Split Apple Rock, just look at my photo and you'll see why! out guide told us why sand on some beaches liked brown: it's because of the high iron content in the granite stones. When the sea sloshes around the stones it rusts the iron in the rocks and washes away. So the brown sand is essentially sand and rust!
We then zoomed over to Adele Island where we saw some female seals and their pups splashing about. The island is a protected animal sanctuary, and our driver switched off the engine so we could gear the rather loud but beautiful NZ bird song!
We then zoomed in and out of the bays along to Torrent Bay where we saw a really strong flowing torrent of water from the bay into the lagoon! Was very impressive. We even saw a few penguins!! :)
We were dropped off and we began our 7.7km walk to Bark Bay. There wee a few houses scattered on this beach and our driver said they were there before it came a park. But because there are no roads in the park they are only really used as holiday homes now!
The start of the walk was busy from everyone being dropped off but we soon soldered up the hill to be ahead of the group. Our path was basically wiggling around and up and down the hills to the next bay, but it was stunning!!! The Forrest felt very rain forest like as was dense and alive! The path was lovely, flat and sandy, unlike the inca trail so we could enjoy the views more.
The weather was sublime! The sun was out and the sky was blue (almost) which was a real answer to prayer!!! The amazing greens of the Forrest were only disturbed by the occasional bright turquoise of the ocean or sky shining through!! Wow! There were also occasional peep holes through the bust which gave stunning bay or sea views! It reminded me of the Agather Cristie film 'Evil Under The Sun'.
The 7.7km was supposed to take 2.5hrs but we did it just under 2. We were among the first to arrive so got some good photos and enjoyed a quick swim. The water was cold to begin with but very pleasant once in! We enjoyed 2 tuna sandwiches and an apple which I had prepared earlier and took a few more photos before leaving, by which time the beach was rather busy.
Our next walk was from Bark Bay to Onetahuti which was 6.1km and supposed to take 2hrs but we did it in 1.5. Although this walk was slightly more challenging as was much more up hill and steeper hills too!
We arrived at Onetahuti just after 2 which was very good and I enjoyed another swim and a sun bathe although it was a bit more windy as the beach was over 1 mile long! Garth explored some caves then we our boat arrived and picked us up just before 2.30pm!
Our speed boat took us to Pinnacle Island to see some more mum and pup seals, but only after one older gentleman 'accidentally' pulled the cord on his inflatable life jacket which was quite funny.
We then drove back to Marahau but the wind had picked up and so had the waves, so there were some exciting splashes and big drops! We were so thrilled we forgot our walking shoes in the boat but soon got them back again!
I then drove south 1.5hrs to Kawatiri where we're were to stay in a basic (free) camp site. It was pleasant enough by the river and surrounded by forest covered hills...until the flies smelled us. There were about 5 huge bumble bees in love with our van an absolutely millions of little butting sand flies all around us!!!! Like we couldn't cook for 1 second without have 5 flies in each of our eyeballs - it was UNBEARABLE!!
We went for a drive to cool off and pack everything away. We eventually returned to the camp site just after sunset to sleep, but it made me think about how horrific a plague of flies would be like with Moses!!
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