Nelson

Next stop on route was Nelson where we were going to stay with my dad's sister and her husband, Jan and Bob for a few days.

Staying with locals really helps to get a feel for a place and it was nice to have a bit longer to explore one area.

Our three favourite things however were...

Favourite activity No.1 - Abel Tasman National Park

Early morning on our last day in Nelson we headed out along the coast to Abel Tasman. Renowned for its shoreline, golden beaches, crystal clear water and lush forest we were excited to arrive.

Booked on the 9am aqua taxi across to one of the more northerly bays we got to our drop-off point quickly and embarked on a three hour walk through the hills and across the beaches taking in all the sights.

There is nothing more to say other than the place is truly beautiful. I would say tranquil also but it is  clearly popular, and with lots of visiting tourists I think you really only get to experience the solitude by staying overnight.

Nonetheless we loved it. If you go, and you must if in NZ make sure you go armed with suncream, swimsuit, picnic, and bug repellent. You don't need anything else - except maybe a camera.

Favourite activity No.2 - Marlborough Sounds

If you are going to travel from north to south island by boat you will go through the Cook Strait and get a glimpse at part of the Marlborough Sounds, the Queen Charlotte track.

This beautiful stretch of land, interspersed by beach and bay is definitely something to behold. Sit on the deck of the ferry as you cross from North to South if that is all you have time for to make sure you don't miss it.

We were lucky enough however to visit another part of the Sounds, the Pelorus Sound, where my aunt Jan has a holiday home, or 'batch' as New Zealanders call it.

We spent a lovely day there reading, fishing (Mike and Bob - nothing caught unfortunately) and walking around the area.

Favourite activity No.3 - Nelson city centre & Tahunanui Beach

Nelson city centre while small is really pretty and nice to wander around. We spent a few afternoons and early evenings popping into the local shops and Mac's Brewery, a definite favourite of Mike's now. We also went to the cinema to see 'This is 40' which was a treat after not seeing a new movie for about four months.

There is also a beautiful beach just outside the centre, Tahunanui. We spent Sunday afternoon there after first going with Jan and Bob for a walk. Very lovely and great to see all the families and kids out enjoying themselves.

However I can't finish this post without saying a huge thank you to Jan and Bob for putting us up and showing us around. It was lovely to have a home away from home after so long in and out of hostels. Sorry about eating all your food and using all your washing powder :)