Abel Tasman National Park and the way to Hokitika

We stayed 3 nights in Eden's Edge Lodge in Motueka. On Monday morning we had to be early in Kaiteriteri. The katamaran from Wilson was a big motorboat and carried many passengers. It serviced along the whole coast from ATP with many stops and at each stop people disembarked and did different things, like kayaking, hiking etc. We did the whole trip up til the end and then back again to Medland Beach. Passing by Tonga Island twice, with seals resting. At Medland Beach we got off with the last few of the others for the longest walk (11.5 km) together with 2 Dutch ladies who stayed in the same Lodge as us. The whole hike is 60 km and is done in 4/5 days. We had to take the high tide track( low tide track 8.4 km). Beautiful weather and lots of variation. First climbing high and then again crossing a beach etc. In Achorage Bay were we entered the boat again, we just arrived to late to see the Orkas there, but the Dutch ladies were in time and promised to send the pictures to me. Again a beautiful day wich ended with the other Dutch people on the terrace of the lodge with our home made meals. Again a big salad with salmon this time.

Tuesday morning Per had to go via the Barbershop for a haircut and then we continued to Hokitika on the West Coast. Normally they get a lot of rain here, but good luck is staying with us.
We took the inner road along The Motueka River. Here again fruit trees and "hop" for making beer. It was a long day. 390 km. At Kahatu we followed again the SH 6 all the way to Westport, partly along the Buller River and canyon. Now we really notice the difference with the North Island. The South Island is a continuing chain of National Parks. It is far between villages and very rural. Coming to the West coast we drove on to the beach and Cape Foulwind. Again there were seals to be seen. We took the coast road because we wanted to visit the pancake rocks at Punakaiki. This was kind of disappointing. The rocks on the coast er amazing but they had made to nice. A path winding through the park and lots of people took away the feeling of great nature. The coast drive feels like the French Riviera, only no houses to be seen. In Hokitika we stayed in a kind of log cabin and again we had Dutch neighbours. Across the road of the Shinning Star, our accommodation, we visited a glow worm site. It is striking that the nature here is the most impressive we have ever seen but that can't be said from the towns and villages. Hokitika is such an example.
We will continue this evening with our adventures from yesterday.