Sea kayaking
VulcanSpirit
Richard & Alison Brunstrom
Sun 10 Feb 2013 14:05
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The Abel Tasman National Park at the north of South
Island is NZ's smallest and newest national park. It is famed for its coastal
scenery and has become very popular for sea kayaking trips lasting from half a
day to a week. We did a two-dayer. Here are a few shots:
The expedition begins. It's amazing what you can
pack into a small canoe.
 What a team!
   We're sailing downwind here, with three canoes held
together and a sail raised on two paddles. Remarkably efficient.
End of day one, lifting very heavy canoes above the
tideline to the campsite.
:
 Camping, with all mod cons including inflatable
matresses, and food cooked by our guide Kim
 Here she is, under the awning setting out dinner.
 A couple of the beaches:
 And this is their busiest week of the
year!
 NZ Fur Seals, Arctocephalus forsteri: NZ
has very few native mammals - just three bats and some seals. These are actually
endemic sea lions (they have external ears and back feet so they can walk unlike
tue seals). Just to confuse things there is also a NZ Sea Lion, which is
closely related. Both species were almost wiped out in the early years
of European settlement but thankfully sense prevailed and they're now totally
protected. When kayaking you can get really close. They're used to people now,
and know we mean no harm.
  And a couple of coastal views to
finish:
  Highly recommended.
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