Kayaking Day3: Mosquito Bay campground to Marahau 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!
The third day we kayaked back to Marahau. This day's main event was going to Adele Island. On the way to Mosquito Bay on the first day, the waves were too high and the kayak company told us not to go there. The third day, however, the winds were not much there, so we decided to go there. Indeed many kayakers were there. Most kayakers were on a day trip with guide. Some were big boat as a guided tour. Us, as a single freedom kayak was really rare.
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| Baby Seal |
We saw agin a seal baby, now drinking milk (seemed like) from mother. Wow so cute. Other baby was trying to walk with mother. Awww. So cute. I was so excited.
Then we took a break on the beach and took a nap. Nap on the beach is always the best. Actually we were supposed to come back to Marahau 15:30-16:00, because kayaking company truck comes to retrieve kayaks during those time. So napping was kind of killing time: we came back earlier than we estimated.
Then we went back to Marahau. Again, near the starting point was the roughest part. It was better than the first day, which was really windy day, but the first part was the most challenging. The kayaking map indicates "The Mad Mile" is the roughest, but Mr.N and I agreed on the first part is much worse.
Upon arrival of Marahau, we saw Jack. He is a very cool guy. He retrieved our kayak and many others. The truck also brought us to the kayaking company place. There were high school part time job people there and immediately washed returned kayak. 12 kayaks were incoming every 20 minutes and they washed very efficiently. They need to dry them out for next day's customers. December is really busy season in New Zealand outdoor business.
At the kayak place there are free shower with free towel provided. Very comfy after 3 days in kayak and salty water exposed. Also they provided wifi. So we chilled for a while. It was nice chilling, but I was a little sad, because we would have to leave New Zealand next day.
The last camping site was DOC campsite. It was grass area with not many people. Actually this day we checked out several campgrounds, but it was packed everywhere. Only this DOC site had a couple of camper vans. After Christmas, everybody is on vacation and New Zealander and foreigners are all camping in New Zealand. So packed. I didn't know why the DOC site was not crowded. Maybe because there is no shower at DOC campsites.
This site was nice along the river. Actually good and bad. Bad is that there were many sandflies. At night there were one sandfly in my sleeping bag and I woke up in the middle of night due to huge itchiness. I saw three bites in line on my ankle!!! So itchy!!! Dumb sandflies!!! Mr.N didn't get bitten at all during this trip.
In Florida I got mosquito and no-see-um bites more than 200. Mr.N got 2. Unfair.
We went to bed in the tent: this was the last night in New Zealand, for now.
#newzealand #kayaking #abeltasmannationalpark
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