Tramping (Hiking) in New Zealand #25: Kayak camping in Abel Tasman National Park Day2

Kayaking Day2: Mosquito Bay campground to Tonga Island and Shag Harbour in Abel Tasman National Park

Type: Out and back 

Time Spent: 6 hours

Day2 Distance:5-7 km (3-4 miles)

Elevation change: on the sea!

Sunrise at Mosquito Bay

This day we started with seeing sunrise. We got up at 4:30 a.m. and sat down on the beach. Nobody was up for sunrise, so the beach was private. It was really pretty the ocean and sky was changing colors as sun was coming. We ate breakfast and a cup of coffee under the warm sunrise light. How luxurious it was. 

Because this day we didn't need to pack up (staying the same campsite 2 nights), we kayaked further up. We explored Tonga Island in the early morning. Tonga Island is located north of Mosquito Bay and there are many seals living.
Indeed Tonga Island we saw many seals sleeping on the rock, resting on the rock, moving on the rock, and swimming seals near the shore. It was sooooooooooooo exciting. They are so cute. They make noise with each other. Sometimes they are clearly fighting over the territory.  Or maybe they were communicating each other.

Swimming seal

Sometimes they suddenly showed up near the kayak, because they were swimming in the sea. They love swimming and so cute! According to a sign they dive very deep in the sea. Jack, our kayak company guide told us that juvenile seals jump on the kayak. They think kayaks are rocks or sea taxi. Funny funny! 

When they land on a rock from swimming their body color looks very black. However, after soaking in the sun, their color becomes grey. In the morning, they are more active. A lot of seals were actively moving on the rocks, more seals were swimming, compared to the afternoon when we stopped by Tonga Island on the way back to Mosquito bay. 

Baby seal

Adults seals were already exciting, but the most exciting thing about seals on this trip was baby seals!!! According to the kayak company, baby seals come in December. Babies were along with mother seal and they were calling, "Kiiiiii, Keeeee" Some mothers along babies looked aggressive. When other seals came close to the mother, she made noise and had the other one go away. Little babies were adorable. I had never seen seal babies. They were so small. Much smaller than I had thought. It seemed like the most popular place for seal mother/baby are on the rock of cove. The next one was rocks on the shore. Some seals were not strong in the group, maybe, and those seemed in the forest behind rocks. We heard a lot of seal noise behind the trees, but they couldn't be seen. 

Shag Harbour

After we enjoyed a lot at Tonga Island we went to Shag Harbour. Shag Harbour can be explored by kayak only when tide is high. We went there the tide was high. It was extremely calm, since there was no waves. Very secreted. It was like a secret place. 

Then we again went back to Tonga Island in the afternoon, then went back to Mosquito Bay for the 2nd night camping. The highlight of the day was definitely baby seals. SO MUCH FUN!!!