Abel Tasman Track Day 1 – Onetahuti Beach Campsite

February 27th, 2003 at 12:00am

Not a bad day today at all. It’s only my first day on the Abel Tasman, and I’ve already done half of it!! In the book this (coastal route only) is listed as a 5-day tramp. Took me 7 hours to get here from Marahau (25 km). An early start in the morning kept me away from the crowds for a few hours, but eventually I caught up to many others, and it was a series of’Hello, Hello, Hi, Hello, Hi. Hi, Hello’s for most of the afternoon as everyone came through. I knew there would be masses so it didn’t really bother me, and I took great pleasure in passing people with daypacks about 1/10 the size of my pack, as usual.

I’ve still got another day of coastal walk to go, but so far this track doesn’t impress me too much as far as the scenery goes. It is beautiful, but I think I’ve been on walks in New Zealand which were more dramatic and spectacular, like the beach walk on the Heaphy or the seal colony at the end of the Hollyford. At least now when I tell people I’ve been tramping in NZ and they ask oh, did you do the Milford and the Abel Tasman (as they always do), I can at least say YES, I’ve’done’ the Abel Tasman. Otherwise I haven’t actually been tramping in New Zealand, according to them anyway.

Princess of Tides…Today I had to plan my day around the low tide twice and tomorrow I’ll have to do it once more. Basically means I can start late, probably around 10am, because I can’t cross the Awaroa Inlet until 12:45pm. No big deal, just means I’ll be finishing a bit later, and it’s still light here until after 9pm so I have plenty of time.

One funny comment I got today was from an old man who called me a’land skier’ because I hike with two poles. Never heard that before!

Love those trees

Beaches of the Abel Tasman Track

Entry Filed under: Abel Tasman,Hiking/Trekking,New Zealand