The Nelson Area

We headed back across the top of the North Island, around Nelson.  We had a walk through the Abel Tasman Park.

They've done quite a nice job of their national parks with lots of trails and walkways.  New Zealand is quite an outdoorsy country...too bad I'm not much of an outdoorsy person!!  I'm not much for bungee jumping, hang gliding, parasailing, mountain climbing or the like...and that's pretty much the activities, especially for the South Island.  I can walk, but never much liked hiking...and now my ankle doesn't like it at all!

 Nevertheless, we did a little walk-about and drive-about in the area.

 This was a particularly pretty spot, with crystal clear water.

 This small heron entertained us for awhile.

 We never did see him catch a fish, but he did some fancy poses.

 The lookout over the beach, and a place for to rest our tired bones!

We have found the South Island quite a lot like BC, but the vegetation is quite different with lots of tree ferns, pines, and other different flowers and trees.  This river was used in "The Hobbit".  It is where the hobbits all went down the river in barrels.