The Morris Mob explore Nelson Tasman

The Morris Mob explore Nelson Tasman

Written by Beth Morris

Posted on Monday 9 September 2019

It has been twelve years since Vaughan and I spent time holidaying around the top of the South Island as a new couple, armed with all the freedom in the world. Twelve years on, we jumped at the chance to build some new memories and take Franca (9) and Ashton (7) back to re-trace some of the steps we took.

Landing at Nelson Airport on Ashtons 7th birthday was a great birthday treat for him. We were all left in awe of the amazing scenery from up above, only to be more amazed as we drove over the Takaka Hill. Here we did some fishing at Anatoki Salmon which was a huge success, and having it cooked on-site with a cold beer was a pretty epic start to a fun week away. We drove to our accommodation for the next few nights, before going for a birthday dinner at the legendary Mussel Inn (which lived up to all our expectations). A special shout out for the lovely touch of a homemade cake for Ashton – it really made his day complete!

Anatoki Salmon 1 pictures courtesy of themorrismob

Anatoki Salmon Farm | Golden Bay


Day two was an early start to make the most of the wonderful Golden Bay weather (yes, even in April). I must say travelling our beautiful country in the shoulder season is well worth considering - none of the crowds, but still plenty of sunshine hours. Our morning activity consisted of a kayaking trip with Golden Bay Kayaks, departing from the sandy shores in front of their premises. Here we saw seals frolicking and sunning themselves, which was super exciting for the kids, and learnt so much from our guide about the history and sea life as we paddled up and down the coastline.

Kayaking in Golden Bay 1 pictures courtesy of themorrismob

Golden Bay Kayaks | Tata Beach


We finished off the afternoon with a trip to Wainui Falls; a fun and easy walk, with swing-bridges to cross and a beautiful New Zealand bush track to explore. A long lunch of homemade pizzas and craft beers at the rustic “Toto’s” was next on the cards. Perched high on a clifftop, we felt that we were somewhere on a stunning Greek Island.

One day three, we went on a day trip with Farewell Spit Tours, boarding a bus from the quaint Collingwood for a day adventuring on the 35km long sandspit. A bird sanctuary and wetland area that is only accessible by tour bus, we were treated to some of the most beautiful scenery and a whole lot of wildlife. We had the most informative tour guide I have ever come across, and learnt so much about this magical place at the top of the South Island. It was a long day but the kids were never bored with seal spotting (we saw a lot), dune racing, a lighthouse visit, and lots of breaks to get out and stretch our legs.

Farewell Spit 1 pictures courtesy of themorrismob2

Farewell Spit Tours | Golden Bay

 

The next morning we ventured back over the hill to check out some more of the beautiful Abel Tasman. If you have ever been to Kaiteriteri Beach you will know what I am talking about when I say that the sand is the most stunning colour a beach can be; a rich gold that we just do not see up in the North. It's here that we boarded the Wilsons Cruise for a journey through the Abel Tasman National Park, the same park that Vaughan and I had once kayaked those many years ago. We jumped off for a few hours at Anchorage Bay for a bush walk and some dune jumping, before heading back over to Nelson for our last few nights.

 Abel Tasman 1 pictures courtesy of themorrismob

Scenic Cruise | Abel Tasman National Park


Over in Nelson we stayed at the Tahuna Beach Holiday Park, which was the perfect location for our adventures. We spent our time exploring Nelson with a visit to Natureland and Pics Peanut Butter World, where we got to watch the delicious spread being created. Ending on a high, we spent our last day at Cable Bay Adventure Park, riding the skywire and having some fun with archery. The kids loved both of these, and it was the perfect way to end our epic week in this stunning part of New Zealand. 

Tahunanui Holiday Park pictures courtesy of themorrismob2

Tahunanui Beach Holiday Park | Tahunanui


Written by Beth Morris from @themorrismob.

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