Nelson --- Home of "The One Ring" and Abel Tasman National Park

This is the last leg of our South Island adventures.  We arrived late evening and were told as we exited the plane on the tarmac to just go straight outside and await our luggage.  Sure enough carts loaded with luggage rolled out front and we just picked our bags up from there.  Domestic flights within New Zealand are pretty stress free.  Our shuttle driver decided to give us a tour of the town before taking us to our accommodation.  He did the same thing when he picked us up to take us back.  What a kick!  Everyone we met in Nelson absolutely love their town and life style.  We were told that when you move to Nelson you never leave.  It is located between two mountain ranges so is protected and has very mild weather all year round.

Autumn colors ------ mild temperatures ----- creative energy ---- make Nelson a place of relaxation and rejuvenation ----- I could easily live here.

Just a snippet of the center of town ---- there are several quaint shops and cafes lining 3 or 4 blocks.
We of course enjoyed sitting along the side walk at a local cafe.

This is looking back at Kaka Point where we started our cruise to Anchorage Bay where our hike would begin.  This is all part of the Tasman Bay.

     
                                                               We bused to this point.

Views of the Tasman Bay

Anchorage Bay ---- starting point for our hike.  Just a heads up --- there was not a sand fly to be seen or felt.  Apparently the sunny dry days scare them away.  We had heard so many stories about sandflies that we were very prepared ---- I mean on this warm beautiful day I was ready with the Loci polartec Katie had given us which allows you to fold over mittens and a neck and chin protector --- I was armed for these pesky flies -----Maybe it was "Me" who scared them away.  We did not encounter any on our whole visit to the South Island.

                                                                  Views from on high

                                                       I always love the bush walks!

                                         It was tea time at this lovely spot at Apple Tree Bay named for the apple trees the first settlers planted there.

More views from this beautiful hike.  I can see why the Abel Tasman is considered one of the great walks of New Zealand.  We just did the day walk so got a little taste of it.

These sculptures were in the garden of an artsy shop in Marahau --- the last town before the start of the National Forest.

To our delight there was also this funky cafe at the end of our hike.  Nothing like a relaxing cup of Chai after a long ---- hot ---- hike.

                                                                        Touching!

Before leaving Nelson we discovered a street with some original buildings from the 1800's.  David also climbed Botanical Hill which is the unofficial "geographical centre of New Zealand"

I, however, scoped out all the little shops and chatted with a few artists in their galleries.

                             This is a beautiful old cathedral on a hill overlooking the center of town.

I will end our South Island trip with this sweater clad figure hanging on the wall of Mac's - a restaurant in the center of town.  Carol, I thought this could be your new project -----Aaeh?

We sampled bits of this beautiful island with the knowledge that there is much much more to explore ---

                    So much beauty ---- so much creativity -------AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH