Nelson and Abel Tasman (again)!

For the final few days of our New Zealand visit, we based ourselves in Nelson ... at a single motel, no less.  The weather was mixed, so on the not-too-good days, we visited a few sites around town.  The obligatory cathedral.  An art gallery.  The Center of New Zealand, which is a viewpoint at the top of a steep hill, that is, not surprisingly, located physically in the center of NZ.  And an arboretum (Queen's Garden), which was beautiful and calm.  Plus, we got in a bike ride around Rabbit Island, not too far out of town.  It even required a ride on a rinky-dink ferry for all of about 100 yds!

Pedestrian/Cycling Bridge near Rabbit Island

Nelson suburbs from The Center of New Zealand.  (literally a mile from town)

Impressive stone path and pagoda, Queen's Garden

Bridge and Pond, Queen's Garden

Window detail, Nelson Cathedral

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We had one spectacular day (warm, sunny, calm winds), and we took full advantage of it with a full-day kayak trip in the southern end of Abel Tasman National Park.  What a great choice! Beautiful water, golden beaches, seals (including a bull), and lots of birds.  Good food and good people.  An excellent last outing!

Coastal Cliffs

Moorage in Paradise

A stare-down with seal pups!

Seal Pups

The Anchorage

Gulls

Sweet As!

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Activities

• Bike ride around Rabbit Island and to Ruby Beach, both from Mapau
• Walk and relax on Ruby Beach
• Walk up to The Center of New Zealand (Nelson)
• Day-long kayak at Abel Tasman Natl Park (Onetahuti Beach to The Anchorage ... with Abel Tasman Kayaks)
• Walk on Kaiteriteri Beach
• Suter Art Gallery (Nelson)
• Queen's Garden (Nelson)
• Nelson Cathedral

5-Star Moments

• The entire kayak trip, and especially a very close encounter with seal pups!

Random Scenes

• Arriving on Rabbit Island with our rented bikes, only to discover that the island is a tree farm!  But it had some nice beaches, and some pretty scenery.
• Going to Speight's Ale House for dinner and discovering it was Quiz Night, and there was no quiet corner.  The questions had a very local character to them, and it's a good thing we didn't play ... we would have failed miserably.

Random Questions

• What are those huge very formal very symmetrical trees?  They're Norfolk Island Pines, named after the islands between Australia and New Zealand.

Tom's Daily Stress Points

• None.  Just chillin'!

Sleeps

• Nelson:  Bay Crest Motor Lodge (very good)

Noteable Eats

• Nelson:  Boat Shed Cafe (very good seafood for lunch), Paasha (again!), Suter Art Gallery Restaurant (very good breakfast fare), Speight's Ale House (pretty good bar food), Smuggler's Pub and Cafe (pretty good bar food)
• Mapau:  Alberta's (great french toast)
• Moteuka:  Patisserie Royal (just ok pastries)
• Kayaking:  Great salmon sandwich!