Fergs rents out kayaks and other things on the boardwalk. We go here for there indoor climbing…read morewalls. The staff is super friendly. They get you hooked up and belaying in no time. They offer a really quick free lesson and then let you loose to climb your heart out. If your around the area and want something a bit more adventurous then the park next door this might be your ticket.

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.

Be warned - Wellington Ocean Sports Centre is not, as we thought, with the RPNYC building, but a…read morefew buildings closer to the gym at the far end of the harbour? See? I not only write reviews, but give you directions too, so you don't get as lost as we do. WOSC offer sailings around Wellington Harbour, as well as various sailing courses for those nautically inclined. We wanted to have a sailing lesson of some sort, and so the SR found the Sunday evening sail, which is what we opted for. We ended up on a keel boat, with four other novices, and the instructor, who tried to ensure we all had something to do at all times of the sail. The sail itself is a couple of hours, with time inclusive to go through some basic instructions, safety advice and fitting of lifejackets and waterproofs. We sailed on quite a blusterly day with a westerly wind, which the instructor noted was rare for Wellington (nice, not that I get worried but DID THE INSTRUCTOR KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS RARE WIND - of course he did, I'm just paranoid and out of my comfort zone on a boat) which helped prove how uncapsizeable these boats are, even in the hands of terrified novices. I even, by the end of the sail, had the courage to leave my corner of the boat and crawl out onto the bow to help dock the boat at the end of the day. I have nothing negative to say about our experience - it was great, our instructor great, and full of tips and guidance as we sailed around, and he didn't take us into a situation where control was lost - you could see he was changing his plans based on how us baby sailors were coping with the changeable circumstances on the water. If we had time, we would have gone back for more instruction if we could, but that will have to wait for the next time we are in New Zealand. Definitely worth a visit, and sailings take place all year around in most weather conditions.

Planning our NZ South Island holiday, we scheduled the Pelorus Eco Tours, because of the promoted…read moreHobbit Kayak Tour- "enjoy kayaking the famous filming location of "Hobbit" movies"-we kayak a fair amount at home, so initially the high price for the short route was a bit meh feeling, but as LOTR fans, we were willing, and excited, for the opportunity to visit some film locations-learning about the area, and local experiences during filming. We did have a good time navigating the shallow rapids, observing the river's ambiance, but overall, we found the tour lacking compared to our expectation & prior experiences. Traveling all across the North & South Island, we blended our itinerary with NZ Culture & LOTR nerdom. This particular tour was meant to be boost LOTR, but the tour guide barely spoke to the filming, and when he did it felt forced, disconnected to a 'tourist' feeling-it was more of an afterthought, for how much it was promoted as a specific LOTR moment. Also, during the tour, while Shane was a fantastic guy to socialize with, he was training a friend on river guiding, so we found ourselves 'backseat' to the training, often waiting on him chatting with staff while we sat in open water mingling amongst ourselves. Overall, a lazy river experience, only entertaining for the few rapids we were able to ride down- we honestly had more fun on the LOTR set, once we knew where it was and went back later to complete our own hike- If going for the LOTR experience, research the waypoint, park at the camp, and take a leisure hike saving time/money. (but do take time to eat in Havelock, because the local dining was delicious)

Wow we had so much fun on the Pelorus river today and the nature there is sumptious! We did a break…read moreto go swimming in the blue and green water...So good on such a hot day! The kayaking tour is perfect for families and people or all ages, the little rapids make it even more funny and shallenging... Thx again Shane for your energy and hapiness!