Bush crowds in on the Abel Tasman track. Photo by Paul
Rush.
Wait until after the summer rush, then hasten to the Abel
Tasman, recommends travel writer Paul Rush.
Golden summer days are simply beautiful on the Abel Tasman
coastal walk, but the serenely placid silver days of autumn
are just perfect.
I'm sitting on the porch of Meadowbank homestead taking in an
idyllic scene.
The tide is pushing into the inlet, creeping over the golden
silica sand in a timeless ritual.
The sky is deep blue, the air cool and crisp, the sea a soft
translucent turquoise.
Our group of walkers on Wilson's three-day guided walk on the
Abel Tasman track have this picture-postcard scene to
ourselves.
The summer hordes are safely back home cherishing fond
memories and viewing their digital images.
The sparkling beaches are virtually empty and the murmuring
streams and fairy glades are ours to enjoy.
Our guided walk through New Zealand's smallest, most
accessible and most popular national park begins in Motueka.
Tour guide Connie, who hails from Germany, is strikingly
tall.
She works summers in Nelson and winters in Nepal.
We appreciate her wry sense of humour when she says, "We need
to know if there are medical people on the trip - we don't
need to know the lawyers."
As it happens, Sasha, from the UK, used to be a practising
lawyer.
Mike and Nori are from the US and plan to kayak the last leg
of this trip.
Alan and Janice hail from Paraparaumu and Alex and Paula are
from the UK.
Paula is a Kiwi girl but moved to London "for the weather".
Our happy band of trampers is taken by bus to Kaiteriteri
beach to board the Wilson's catamaran.
During the two-hour cruise to Totaranui, assistant guide
Averil points out a quaint little cove.
Medlands beach used to have one of the few remaining
1950s-style private baches along the coast, which were
required to be demolished on the death of the owner.
It seems that Mr Medland's son Vern occupied the bach for
five years during which time the local ranger made numerous
visits asking after the father's health and whereabouts.
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