Archive for the 'Abel Tasman' Category
Kayaking At Abel Tasman National Park – Go Closer
May 18th, 2010
Let me give you a perfect example of what the day was like yesterday. After several wonderful hours of kayaking, we hit a beautiful beach, had a lovely lunch and then we went on a hike. At one specific tree that was covered in mold, our guide Tom Bryant, Operations Manager for Abel Tasman AquaTaxi, stopped and explained about the mold. And then showed us these funny little hairs on the tree, and they had little beads of moisture on them. “Get one of those drops on your finger,” he said. “They’re called honey dew.”
I did.
“Stick out your tongue and eat the drop.”
I did. It tasted sweet.
With an innocent little smile on his face, Tom explained the process of how honey dew is created and that it is, in essence, bug pee.
Let me back track a bit, now that I have set the tone for today’s post. Yesterday, Adriena and I went to Marahau (a little over an hour’s drive from Nelson) for a full day walking and kayaking tour with Abel Tasman Kayaks in the Abel Tasman National Park.
(Abel Tasman Kayaks and Abel Tasman AquaTaxi are somehow connected. I am not sure how, but they go together like peanut butter and jelly, milk and cookies…or something like that. I will try to find out more about that at TRENZ.)
This is one of those iconic trips that really feels like you are getting a true New Zealand experience: the outdoors, it’s active, and lots of beautiful scenery. When you look at the brochure, this tour really seems to have it all. Well, the brochure – as good as it is – doesn’t do it justice. The pieces are all there, but what can’t be explained is that little something extra that is pure Kiwi. It is almost something that defies words. It just happens sometimes…the blend of activity, personalities, weather and some other indefinable “thing” comes together to create something magical.
We boarded the AquaTaxi, along with several others, and were taken on a bit of a tour of some landmarks before we were dropped off at the beach to begin our kayaking leg of the journey.
Immediately, Tom took us through “Kayaking 101” and made us feel at ease, comfortable, in control and safe. And that’s important. I’m no chicken; I’ve jumped off a few bridges in my time, but looking at the ocean and that itty-bitty piece of plastic, I was grateful that he took his job seriously. (As referenced earlier, he doesn’t have quite the same grown up approach to life however.)
Tom made the trip exceptional. He explained the history and background of specific areas. When he took us to Tonga Island where the seals hang out, he was vigilant about how close our kayaks got to shore (and the seals on the shore). You could tell that this area matters to him. He respects the living creatures here and really cares about the environment. He was also really funny and engaged the small group of us in a way that made the adventure even livelier.
He also tricked us on a regular basis. He never quite let on just how far we were going to kayak. It was always: “It’s just around that corner,” or, “Up there a bit, we’ll stop for tea.”
This morning my arms are so sore I can hardly type this blog post.
We did the little kid thing and asked several times, “Are we there yet?” He handled us very well and kept our spirits high, our paddles moving and had us laughing or learning, or sometimes both.
The tour with AquaTaxi is quite unique as they bring you “closer.” They are one of only three companies with a marine mammal permit, which allows you to get up close with the seals, penguins and occasionally dolphins. Their boats are specifically built for the Abel Tasman landscape and they let you get in and out of the bays and areas.
I wrote about a very different, yet very similar experience in last year’s TRENZblog. The AquaTaxi tour is exceptional. It’s fun, educational, entertaining and really worth doing, but what really made it was our guide. New Zealanders bring something special to this kind of experience and it goes beyond what they are explaining or showing you; it’s at the core of who they are. Everyone on the team at AquaTaxi are friendly, you can see that they have a real affection for one another, a huge amount of respect for Mother Nature and the Earth, and they make you feel a part of the world for the time that you are there.
I come from a life that is hectic. It seems that I am always busy and that just sitting and appreciating isn’t always top of mind. (But hey, it’s a work in progress!) When I have the opportunity and the honour (he might get a big head from this) of meeting someone like Tom, it inspires me. He is fully engaged in his life and he is fully present in the moment. Whether it’s telling us about his kids or asking about our lives, showing us landmarks, pouring tea for us on the beach or tricking innocent tourists into tasting bug pee, he’s right in there participating. It’s one of those life lessons that I think we all need to be reminded of every once in a while.
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