Abel Tasman Walk - Day 3

Today was 20 kilometres split into three sections. Everyone walked the first section, then the kayakers got into their kayaks for the first time and paddled the other two sections. I walked all three sections, making it the longest distance I’ve walked in a day. There were options to catch a boat for part of the journey, and I had expected to avail myself of these, as I am still only 80% recovered from long COVID, so it was a personal achievement to have completed this day without taking the boat. One of the reasons I took this walk was that there were all sorts of options available if I was not really able to do the lot.

When we left, the tide was in a fair way, so we needed to wade down the estuary a little.

But soon we were on the path. As I was self-guided, I started walking ahead of the others at this point. I didn’t see them again until lunchtime, at the end of the first section. 

There was lichen growing on the ground next to the path. I was pretty surprised about this!

There were two steep hills in this section (in fact each section had two steep hills). The path went away from the coast, and when there was a break in the vegetation I could see forested valleys.

But I saw glimpses of the coast as well.

At the end of the first section the path came down to a long beach

and there was a fairy penguin sitting on the sand next to the path.

The path moved back into the forest. 

Through the next gap in the trees I saw that the boat was unloading the kayaks for the kayakers, and then that they were being arranged for the kayakers.

I continued on the trail, 

and came to the end of the second section, where I decided to take the high tide trail rather than the low tide one. I was immediately rewarded with waterfalls and moss,

before coming to the estuary and getting to the beach. 

I ate my lunch and was ready to take the next section when everyone else arrived, including the kayakers.

The third section included more fantastic forest 

before I reached the famous swing bridge. 

After more glorious scenery, I reached the lookout above the beach where our next lodge was, and saw the kayakers arriving again.