Abel Tasman Coast Track Day 1

We set off on Thursday, with an early flight to Nelson and then Trek Express to Marahau where the Abel Tasman Coastal track starts.  Happy to find The Park Cafe in Marahau so we had a decent lunch before five days of tramping food!

You start off crossing the Marahau River in the open.

Then you hit the bush.

And then into canopy cover, which in 26 degree heat is very welcome.

Every so often the canopy clears to give you stunning views of the water and beaches.

The first day is around four hours tramping.

The view above Stilwell Bay.

And off memory this is Cyathea Cove.

Despite being a coastal track, quite a variety of bush.

Torrent Bay in the distance.

Heading down to Anchorage.

And the final stretch along the beach at The Anchorage. Unlike most tramps where you only see other trampers, the Abel Tasman is like a motorway. There are hundreds of day walkers, kayakers and beach goers who just come in by water taxi. As you lug your 16 kg pack you envy the day walkers with their tiny bags.

Anchorage Hut which was only built a few years ago. Possibly the best DOC Hut I have stayed in. They have five separate bunkrooms and flush toilets under the same balcony so you don’t have to navigate a field in the dark when you need to go.

Our bunkroom. Having storage for packs makes a huge difference.

And the view from the hut with some nice tables on the lawn just in front of the beach.

We got there around 4 pm, so had time to go for a late afternoon swim. Not many tramps in NZ in which I’ve gone swimming. Normally you’re so high up the water is freezing!