Another long drive took us up to Motueka at the base of the Abel Tasman national park, a beautiful area that is very popular in the summer especially. It's very beautiful in winter too and not at all busy.

We really wanted to do some kayaking and hopefully see seals up close. We had hoped to swim with them but this only happens in summer. We booked a kayaking trip and we delighted to learn when we arrived that we had been upgraded to an easier and longer trip! wohoo! Our guide Jeremy was a typical Kiwi and was remarkably knowledgable about the area, the geology, the geography, botany, biology and the history. His stories were endless. In fact he never shut up!

It was a very gorgeous day if a bit cold and we had an ace time paddling around the national park. We did get left behind lots of times though but later realised that it wasn't because we're a couple of fat old pansies, but because our kayak was carrying all the equipment and food!

We did manage to get up close and personal with baby seals in an area called the nursery at Tonga Island. It's an enclosed little quiet pool where the mums leave their babies to play. There's a small opening to kayak through and there they are, all playing and jumping. They are so inquisitive and jump up on the kayaks to get a closer look at you - this obviously proves to be a mutually agreeable situation because you're busy trying to get a closer look at them!

We stopped for lunch - pumpkin soup and chocolate cake - and then paddled on (in agony by now! it's not easy!) for a few more hours to a quiet cove and the water taxi home. Phew!

Once again we had knackered ourselves out and that night had fish and chips, wine and a hot tub back at the hostel - lovely!

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