Back to Nelson

Leaving Mapua, we hopped on a short (10 min) ferry that runs purely for cyclists riding our trail (in fact the ferry is run by a bike rental company). We rode along the beaches of Rabbit Island on our way back to Nelson. This evening we watched the New Zealand movie Pork Pie, about three accidental outlaws journeying from Auckland to Invercargill. A silly but entertaining film with lots of kiwi inside jokes and humour (including a cameo by the mayor of Invercargill!).

Mapua

Yesterday we rode 40km from Kaiteriteri to Mapua. With rain clouds chasing us the whole way, we didn't stop to loiter at any of the tantalising cafes (including one with tame eels that you could feed!). This is the first campsite that we've been to that offers a restaurant/bar, so we ordered some refreshing beverages and then returned an hour later for dinner. After dinner we took the low tide route into town, walking through clay and clam shells to the cute town centre. Today was our lazy day - we lounged around until the heat and humidity chased us out of our cabin. We started on a 30km wine route that passes by 5 wineries, but we didn't get past the first one! At Mahana Estates we tasted 9 different wines, ate a delicious mixed platter of cheeses, charcuterie and antipasto and topped it off with dessert since the shady patio with live music an excellent view was exactly what we were looking for!

Kaiteriteri kayak

Us in front of the Tonga arches.

Indeed, Abel Tasman discovered Tasmania in 1642 and then sailed east and discovered New Zealand, arriving not far from where we are currently (but then he was chased away by the Maori, and gave the name "Murderer's Bay" to what is now known as Golden Bay).

Kaiteriteri

We are now in Kaiteriteri, a one street town on the beach and a launch point to Abel Tasman National Park, which we will explore by kayak tomorrow.

Ginger Dynamite

This little container-turned coffee shop serves up award-winning coffee and pies and was recommended to us when we were in Takaka. We rode 50km by 1pm...now it's time to sit and enjoy some food and the cafe's comfy couch before continuing onward. Neil is sitting in the corner of the container on the left but it's hard to see him in the photo.