We had a wonderful time on Wilsons' "Great Day Out" cruise / walk combo in Abel Tasman National…read morePark. The views were wonderful and the service was great. We began our journey at 9:20am by taking a water taxi from Kaiteriteri to Anchorage for 30 minutes (this was because the main boat was at capacity for the first leg) - it was a great experience. We loved the small boat ride - it was nice to have wind blowing against our faces as we sped along the water and took in the lovely views. Split Apple Rock was a highlight. We then transferred to the big white Wilsons boat at Anchorage and sat in the open air rooftop deck to take in the views. The seal colony was neat to see. We took the boat all the way to Totaranui and then got dropped off at Tonga Quarry a little before noon for our two hour hike to Medlands Beach. Our hike was quite pleasant - there were a few steep uphill portions (especially at the beginning), but for the most part, the ground was either level or gently downhill. The scenery was beautiful - a mix of coastal views and forest. We ate our lunch (which we brought with us) at Medlands Beach and had chosen the 3:00pm boat pick up. We felt one hour at this small beach was just right for us. Our boat ride back to Kaiteriteri was pleasant and we sat downstairs in the enclosed area and enjoyed coffees while checking out the views one last time. Tips: (1) When booking, ask for a senior discount and prepay discount, as applicable to you (2) Bring and apply sunscreen and insect repellent (3) Your feet may get wet, so hiking sandals or other shoes that can easily come on and off are a good idea (4) Bring a sheet or beach towel to sit on at Medlands Beach after your hike Overall, a great experience!

Wilson was one of the three Abel Tasman operators we tried in Kaiteriteri and were happy with their…read moreservice. A wide of option of departure and pick up boats. Staff is very helpful with figuring out the routes for you but it's really very straight forward. You can figure it out yourself based on the timetable of their boats. Apart from that, there were no major differences between all three boat/kayak operators. Wilson was running the latest a boat, which worked out great for us. Coming back to Kaiteriteri at 6 pm seemed like the best option as you get a good 5-7 hours in the park during the day. They also have a little cafe on the boat so you can get tea, coffee, basic morning snakes and alcoholic drinks on the boat.

One of the couple boat operators we used in the Abel Tasman park. While there is no significant…read moredifference between all of them, I would say Sea Shuttle is less crowded. Ultimately the choice will come down to the timetables of their departure/pickups, as this will define how much of hiking you get to do. They also have three day passes at about $150 NZ $, which is a great deal if you are staying around the park for a few days.

I had a tour with Kaiteriteri Kayaks and they used the Sea Shuttle bus to pick me up from Nelson…read more Our driver was HILARIOUS and such a joy. It's obvious he loves his job and is passionate about the area. I didn't ride on the Sea Shuttle boat, but it looked very crowded.

We did the Split Apple Rock/ Toka Ngawhā 3-hour tour from 9AM-12PM which launched from the shores…read moreof Kaiteriteri Beach (or Kaiteretere in Maori for "a hurried meal"). This was a mixed group outing on a waka, a traditional Maori outrigger canoe. We ended up with 3 other participants who signed up online and were led by Lea, our guide. Not only was she our guide, imparting cultural knowledge and stories of the Maori people, but she taught us all the cues/ commands to paddle in sync with our newly formulated team. We also learned a powerful "haka" cry, to instill fear into other fellow paddlers also visiting the Split Apple Rock (and end up on social media while at it, haha). It was a powerful, confidence inducing paddle, and new and different. Paddling with strangers might seem weird, but the experience, under the guidance of Lea, made it feel quite natural and fun too. You do not need any experience to sign up. Just come with an open mind. And a full belly since the paddle could be quite vigorous, although you do get plenty of breaks along your course to the "burst open rock" and even a little hang out opportunity on the way back at one of the nearby golden sanded beaches. This 3-hour tour was perfect for experiencing Abel Tasman NP, without eating too much time into your day. Extra bonus if you have sunshine which we were so grateful to have during our outing! Todd, the owner, was super kind too. Kind enough to offer some recommendations of local eats and drinks before wishing us well for the rest of our day. Thank you Waka Abel Tasman for the most gratifying cultural experience!

Clearest spring water in the world? And second clearest water in the world after a sea in…read moreAntarctica? Yep, definitely worth the 10 minute drive from Takaka to check it out. Don't expect to spend all day here, this is a quick "tick it off the list" type of stop. They've built a very nice walking platform that gets you up close and personal to the two clearest spots, and a small outdoor visitors center that explains exactly how the water is so clear (something to do with the insane amount of water* that flows through each second). Look, it's not something I would put on my "must see in New Zealand" list, but if you're in the area, absolutely make the 30 minute detour. Considering how many amazing things there are to see on the south Island, it says a lot that this doesn't come close to the top. Because it's absolutely stunning. *When I say "insane amount of water," even giving you the number of liters or gallons won't help, so to put it in perspective, it's enough water to fill 40 bathtubs every second. Insane.

Are any of you reading this on a Windows 10 computer? I'm sure a few of you have spent some time…read morestaring at your desktop wallpaper thinking "Wooow. Love this photo, I wish I was there right now instead of working.." Well this place is one of those photos! You can refer to my photo.. However mine is missing the woman running across the sand. I just didn't look as majestic when I did it. So I'll spare you all... haha This beach is at one of the north most points of the south island, and it's pretty well hidden! It's about a 10 minute drive up a dirt road big enough for one car but let's make a two car road and make things interesting says New Zealand! When we got to the lot to park there were two wild horses just hanging around the lot. You walk about 15 minutes up a nice hike path that takes you too the beach. I told you.. Well hidden! And this hike was unique for me, mostly all of it is sand. Gives you a little taste of what to expect. As if you didn't already know you were going to a beach.... haha When we went it was almost empty!! That's a vibe! So peaceful, so serene. And it has more than what you see when you first walk up. We didn't walk too much left but everyone says it's even better. And my favorite part?? This beach has Seals! No not that Seal... He's probably never been to New Zealand. I saw one, they can be hard to see because they love to sunbathe on the rocks in the ocean. Try and find some hiding under caves. But don't wake them up, I know how I feel when I'm woken up for no good reason! One of my favorite beaches I've been too so far! I had forgotten what it felt like to walk on a beach and not burn my feet to the point of a potential 911 call. All around wonderful time. If you travel to NZ this should definitely be on your list of destinations to see!

What a great place to visit! It is a bit hidden and you got about 2km or so down a very bumpy dirt…read moreroad that I am convinced is not at all wide enough for two cars to drive on at the same time, so definitely recommend taking it slow. There is a parking lot marking the start of the hike to the beach that was pretty packed when I got there. I only got a spot because someone was leaving as I arrived. There was a bit of a treat with a feral peacock walking in between the cars, which was fun to see. The hike itself is probably about 20-30mins one way depending on your pace and if you stop to really take in the views. You got through open pastures on this narrow trail that hugs the side of some very steep hills where sheep are openly grazing and it is just gorgeous. The green, tall pastoral hills dotted w/sheep under a clear blue sky just felt completely New Zealand! After you exit the hills down through some forest you come out in the dunes. The sand really took it out of my physically and when I could finally see the actual shoreline, I literally felt like I was never going to get to put my feet in the water because the tide was going out! But, the beach itself is incredibly beautiful! Between the dunes behind you hand the rock formations in the water, it is a little slice of NZ heaven! Needless to say, well worth the hike and you visit to the Farewell Spit is not complete until you have been here!