Abel Tasman by Water

For our second journey into the national park, we opted for a boat ride along the coast. A fellow world traveling family had recommended Abel Tasman Charters. They were particularly excited by their experience with Skipper Emma. Booking with them, we were excited to learn Skipper Emma would be in charge of our boat too!

Skipper Emma

Here's a video recap of the day...

At 10am we were off. First stop was a fly by of Split Apple Rock, which we had visited a couple days earlier on the Aqua Taxi. Next up, we cruised slowly by Adele Island. The small island is 100% predator free for the birds, creating a bird sanctuary. Emma cut the engines for a bit so we could hear the birds singing from the water.

Listening to birds on Adele Island.

We continued up the coast and stopped at Bark Bay and later Te Pukatea Bay. Paige & Sadie swam, we explored the beaches & estuaries, went for a hike and got out on kayaks - a popular way to explore the beach coves.

We had a fantastic day exploring Abel Tasman. Paige & Sadie both didn't want the day to end, and Sadie wrote in her journal that it was "one of her best days EVER!" Abel Tasman really is a special spot and unique because there are no roads in the national park. The only entry is by foot or boat. Glad we got a chance to do both!