The Abel Tasman and Coastella

The week after I got back from the Masters Games, it was off to the Abel Tasman for 4 days of Year 11 camp. The school needed an extra person to help look after the girls, and I had done this camp on many previous occasions. I love camp, so getting paid to go was a real bonus!

After taking the ferry from Wellington to Picton, then boarding a bus, the first stop was at Pelorus bridge where the girls enjoyed a welcome dip in the river as an escape from the heat.

We spent the first night at Marahau, then the following day we headed off on the first leg of our walk: Marahau to Anchorage. It really is such a stunning part of the country, particularly on a gorgeous summer day.

Anchorage is a beautiful golden sanded crescent-shaped beach and it was nice to arrive in good time, set up camp, then take the girls for a swim.

Bark Bay was our next overnight destination, but on the way we had to pass through the stunning Torrent Bay where we stopped for lunch.

If I'm a bit hot and sweaty looking in the pic below, it was because I'd just conquered the big hill that leads you out of Torrent Bay. Of course the trade-off for the uphill slog is always gorgeous views...

The approach to Bark Bay offered up more beautiful scenery. The girls were just awesome on the walk. I had a fantastic group and there was minimal whinging about the hills, and the weight of their packs.

Bark Bay is my favourite campsite in the Abel Tasman. You camp on a narrow spit of land with the sea on one side and a tidal estuary on the other. The previous year there had been a massive storm which deposited  sand all over the campsite, and it it still an issue today. It does make it rather difficult to get the tent pegs in! I love my little Macpac home away from home, it has been my sanctuary on many an adventure.

 Bark Bay also usually puts on a pretty good sunrise.

The last day was a short day of walking to Onetahuti beach. We had time for lunch and a quick swim before taking a water taxi back to Marahau. From there it was a bus to Nelson before flying back to Wellington, happy but exhausted after another fantastic camp.

Near the end of February Will and I attended Coastella, a very cute little boutique music festival held on the grounds of the Southward car museum in Paraparaumu.

One of our first acts was to check out the 'Tiny Town' stage. This was essentially a ten foot shipping container in which a stage had been set up. There is room for up to 5 audience members, and you stand and watch the performers (in our case a charismatic country duo) do a couple of songs. It was a very intimate and very cool experience.

C.W. Stoneking was another highlight. I had first heard of this guy a couple of years earlier, so I enjoyed getting the opportunity to see him live. I LOVE his cover of the White Stripe's Seven Nation Army.

It was very nice listening to some good music and chilling out in the sunshine over a couple of ciders. By the looks of things, Will was in desperate need of some RnR!

 You can't beat a bit of Trinity Roots kiwi-style reggae on a balmy summer evening...

The headline act was a band called Bullhorn, who I had never heard of. They were awesome!!! They consisted of 7 brass players, a drummer and an MC, and they played the most incredible energetic set. I loved it! You can get a taste of what they are about here.

Will and I really loved our first Coastella experience. Unfortunately the festival didn't run in 2020 for financial reasons, but if it resurrects itself in the future we would definitely be keen to return.