So we are here in Nelson for two days, so spontaneously we decide to give sea kayaking a go – how hard could it be??

As it turns out not very hard, and it was a perfect weather day for a paddle.

The place is at Marahau Sea Kayaks.

https://www.abeltasman.com/activities/kayaking/

But what we didn’t realize when we signed on is that it is about a 1-1/2 hour drive from where we are staying in Nelson. But hey, it’s NZ and totally worth the drive for an 8:30 AM start.

Specifically, we are in Abel Tasman National Park, one of the smallest but most visited national parks in NZ.

Established in 1942 we are floating through the Marine Reserve area.

We actually went out in open water in our two-person sea kayak and did a loop around the Tonga Island Seal Colony. The seals are very well adapted to be camouflaged on the island rocks, but the group spots a few and one in open water.

The folks at the park shuttle you from the welcome center to the kayaking bay in water taxi’s which is a down under understatement when it comes to speed!

Finishing up the morning paddle the group beaches the kayaks for a beach lunch.

We have lunch legs, amazing views and don’t want to leave, but it’s back on the water taxi for the return trip to the dock. But the tide is out, and the differential between low and high tide is about 8 feet, so the folks at the park have solved the problem of getting you (and the boat) back to a launch area that is now across about a quarter mile of sand exposed at low tide…

Mission accomplished!