On January 18th Doug and I left Kaiteriteri at 9:10am. We hopped on a water taxi (a boat) and traveled to Mendelen Bay at the Abel Tasman National Park. From there we did a short hike to Bark Bay where we set up our tent for the night.
We set up quickly because it looked like the sky was going to absolutely pour rain on us but it only misted a bit.
The tent was set up right in the center of the bay on a gorgeous beach.
The water was such a clear turquoise, it was simply unreal. We both agreed that we were camping in paradise. 
Later on that day we hiked a few of the trails the national park had to offer, including one that directed us towards a fast flowing waterfall. It wasn't huge, however it was perfectly placed and provided a sense of serenity.
I climbed near it up the slippery moss-covered rocks (apparently New Zealand has me embracing my daredevil side).
Doug followed (without any hesitation) Go-Pro in hand (I think he sleeps with that thing).
We took a few snaps and explored before crossing a bridge to continue the trail back to our base camp.
The forest of the national park is green and full of life. We very much enjoyed our day at Bark Bay.
That night we made some chicken noodles over the portable camp stove and played a few card games. We went for a short walk and watched the tides turn before venturing off to bed. The tide change at the park tripped our minds. We literally walked across a sandy beach area where boats sat (as if deserted by their owners.)
And hours later the boats were floating in the exact same spots as you normally would see them in the water.
All within a matter of hours the landscapes did a complete 360.
The following morning (the 19th) we woke up early, changed, made some oatmeal and coffee and bagged away the tent. We had a ~ 2 hour hike to Tortuga Bay where we would be meeting a group of people to go kayaking. The hike itself was full of hills in the beginning but it was a great way to wake up our muscles and get our blood flowing. We came across a few waterfalls and surprise bridges along the way. All the while the sound of cicadas buzzed in the background as we walked.
The hike didn't take us as long as we thought it would. Therefore we had some beach time before we paddled out. 
Once in our trusty orange kayak we paddled all around the outskirts of the park. Doug was in the back so he was in charge of steering (although apparently that was difficult from him to do with the distraction of his Go-Pro.) lets just say-my arms got their work-out in for the week. In all we were a good kayak team, a little dysfunctional at times, but good.
The water was all shades of blue that day, and not the dark blues you typically see, but that turquoise blue you watch in Sandals Beach Resort commercials, that turquoise water you dream about....we were in it!
We had the most perfect weather and even got to see a large male seal warming himself on a rock near us (that is supposedly attractive to the females??).
Being out on the water and using our upper bodies was a fantastic change of pace from all the hiking we have been doing lately. Plus you just can't beat the ocean, there is no better natural music than the sound of a wave.
We kayaked for about half the day before we paddled to shore. From there we did a short hike to Anchorage Bay where we waited for a couple hours before the water taxi came to collect us. With a few hours to spare we went swimming and people watched on the beach. We've both become slightly obsessed with sailboats, because the New Zealand coastline is full of them. The owners have such beautiful boats and we love admiring the design of them all.
The water taxi took us back to Kaiteriteri where we stayed in a hostel one more night before heading to Westport. Lucky for us, some of our Kiwi Experience friends we had met in the beginning of our trip were also staying at the same hostel! We were so happy to see them as we will be traveling with them in the next week or so. Doug and I were especially pumped to see that our friends from England (Danielle, Chloe, Becky and Emma) were at the same hostel. We met these girls in the very beginning and they have been making us laugh ever since. They are super sweet and full of life--exactly the kind of people we had hoped to meet on a trip like this! Two of our friends from Ireland (Ariane and Khalid) and another friend from England, Lizzie were also at the same hostel. The nine of us have formed a corky travel bond and have made some very laughable and once-in-a-lifetime memories together. (Yes, by "once-in-a-lifetime," I mean the Tungariro Alpine Crossing). The age range of the nine of us is 23-27. We have different accents and say words that mean completely different things to us, but that just makes our conversations even more entertaining.
The Kiwi Experience has been very good to us. We love being able to visit such a variety of numerous places and meet so many diverse and interesting people. I have completely enjoyed hearing everyone else's stories and backgrounds. I'm a huge believe that everyone has a story. Never be afraid to share your own :) You can meet some pretty wonderful people when you do.
Thanks so much for reading! Doug and I love reading your comments (they are like little presents and pieces of home whenever we get wifi--- seriously we act like 5-yr olds, pathetic??---not in the slightest.)
Side note: (and for further entertainment, read this next bit with the voice of Richard Simmons):
Doug and I are feeling so much different than we did at home when it comes to our health. Getting out and hiking has been awesome (mostly, again--the crossing!). I'm a health nerd and I think the body is the most amazing creation-wake up and use your body people!!...Feel your heart pump and don't take that feeling for granted! :)
Have a wonderful day!
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