Today was another early start to make the tidal crossing before the tide turned in the Awaroa Inlet.

Shells shells and more shells, this is what we had to walk on most of the way, I've never seen so many clams. We were wiser this morning and took our thongs to change into.

It wasn't long after sunrise that we walked along this pretty bay...Waiharakeke Bay.

I like this photo as it shows the silver colour of underside of the fern leaves .

As the sun rose in the sky the water started to change to a beautiful blue, green colour...this is Goat Bay.

Not only are there clam shells everywhere but also mussel shells and some of them are enormous!

The lodge gave us our packed lunch and breakfast last night. I chose to eat my muesli and yoghurt  on   Totaranui Beach...bliss.

...all alone we were on Totaranui Beach.

Grand Avenue Totaranui...this was once an entrance to a famous homestead but now only a campground remains. 

Anapai Bay

Anatakapou Bay 

...and my favourite, a little bay just before Mutton Cove.

Separation Point

Watching seals at Separation Point

A mother and her two pups...

Our final destination , Wainui Inlet.

The end of the Abel Tasman track...a lovely young lady took this photo for us, we met her and her husband on the boat on our first night on the track and we finished almost at the same time. We were all picked up and taken to Ratanui Lodge beside Pohara Beach where we enjoyed a rest in a hot spa before a sensational three course meal and a very comfortable bed. 

An early start on the track this morning as we had to cross the Torrent Bay Inlet while the tide was out. It wasn't always as easy as this photo makes it look, at times we were thigh deep in very cold water. 

One of the many waterfalls we were to see today. It had rained all night so all the creeks and streams were running swiftly.

The view of Sandfly Beach ....

...down on Sandfly Beach, it was quite a climb down and then up again to the track, we were quite proud of our selves.

At almost every turn on the track we have view like this of the water, coastline and magical bays.

This was the second suspension bridge we crossed today, this one was over the Waterfall Creek.

Here the creek is running out into the ocean.

Me

Blue and brown, we were to see the two different coloured waters all day as the brown creeks spilled into the blue water of the ocean.

Onetahuti Beach...a couple of people on the beach in this photo ...the water is so clear.

Onetahuti Beach...I was always behind Pete looking at the shells...

Richardson Stream running into Onetahuti Bay..

The beautiful New Zealand tree ferns that are almost everywhere on the track remind me of ladies in long skirts. Tonight we are staying in a very comfortable lodge in Awaroa.

Our first day on the Abel Tasman Walk, through the Abel Tasman National Park.

It rained during the bus ride down to the start of the walk but stopped just as we started walking. There was still mist in the mountains though.

The water was so calm and we couldn't really see a horizon, it was rather eerie.

It started to get lighter and we could see the beautiful green colour of the water, so pretty.

Apple Tree Bay where we stopped for a snack and saw so many birds. The island is Adele Island.

The weather continues to improve and Pete and I just love walking along the beach...with nobody else around.

As we walked along the track we could look back at the beaches we had walked along, the colours are amazing.

Adele Island

So many interesting rock formations...

We had a little sprinkle of rain but luckily Pete and I found cover in a beach cave...note the black sand ( because there is iron in it).

Te Pupatea Bay...all to ourselves 

Our bed for the night...on a aqua packers boat at Anchorage. We had a fabulous time with Mark and Jane our hosts and 9 others (who were all way younger than Pete and I). We were gently rocked to sleep. A perfect end to a fabulous day.

Beautiful Picton harbour on a glorious sunny morning. On the left of the photo is the "Islander" , the ferry that travels between the north and the south island.

 ...more photos of the harbour...

Picton, surrounded by hills...

...the fern in my coffee...

In the early afternoon we caught the bus back to Nelson. I took a few photos from the window. We passed many pine forests but also vineyards and farmland (mainly dairy farms). The yellow gorse is everywhere, so pretty at this time of year.

After checking into our hotel, Pete and I went for a walk in the sunshine. This is the Maitai River that flows through Nelson . 

How beautiful are these daffodils in the heart of Nelson?

I put this photo in for a laugh...we are unpacking and repacking before our next walk, leaving one suitcase here in the hotel. Pete has just told me that he left my bookclub book (which he was reading first) on the bus!