Last day at Abel Tasman

Day 178 – Nelson, New Zealand

The day began with my alarm not ringing. Fortunately, I woke up -and checked the time- and had still half the time I had scheduled for the morning. So instead of leisurely packing up my stuff -check-out day- and having a quiet breakfast with lots of time over my mug of tea, I packed up quickly and gulped my breakfast. And was just on time for my pick-up.

(The boat shuttle picks me up at my hostel and drops me back, except this last day, when they picked me up with my bags, stored them during the day and dropped me off at Nelson at my new hostel the evening. They are amazing. A shout out for Abel Tasman Sea Shuttle.)

The day was cloudy with the occasional rain shower. I had switched the walk I had scheduled for a smaller, easier day. I walked to Cleopatra’s pool, a nice pool in the Torrent River, which is a little more than an hour away from the beach I was dropped off. It follows the coastal high tide trail I had avoided yesterday around Torrent Bay, and since it’s not all flat, it was a good thing that I had crossed the estuary at low tide.

Abel Tasman National Park – Torrent Bay – High tide

There is at least one eel in the pool, to the dismay of at least one visitor who wanted to splash around!

Abel Tasman National Park – Cleopatra’s Pool, with eel

I ate lunch then walked back to Anchorage Beach, where I had the idea to take a swim. Then I put my toes in the water and changed my mind! I took a nap instead. It was a fast resolution of that choice!

Back in Kaiteriteri, the shuttle was waiting with my bags already on board, and then we were on route for Nelson.

Nelson

After three nights with a hostel for myself, it was a bit shocking to be again in a busy hostel. To the point that I had to queue for the showers! I was back on a top bunk with an almost creaky bed, and my downstairs neighbour was the kind to tap a beat on the frame with his foot, which can be felt of course at my level.