A Walk in the New Zealand Woods – Wilsons Abel Tasman National Park

Lambs’ Ears and The Bloke celebrate not being dead with a fantastic 3-day walking trip in New Zealand with Wilsons Abel Tasman.

It’s been a bit of a milestone birthday year in our house with our youngest turning 21 and The Bloke and I both celebrating ‘significant’ birthdays. The Bloke was first cab off the ranks for major life landmarks, so we celebrated still being alive by heading to New Zealand for a three day walk on a Wilsons Abel Tasman National Park walk. 

Wilsons Abel Tasman is a family-run business, operating just out of Nelson on the magnificent south island of New Zealand. It is within a designated New Zealand national park which covers a spectacular 225 square kilometre area. The coastal walk, which is one of New Zealand’s Dept of Conservation official Great Walks, is part of two parcels of beach front land on historic free-hold title, surrounded by the park, which is operated by the Wilson family. They have had family connections to the region for eight generations.

From their selection, we opted for the three day walk, which is fully catered. I may be getting older, but I haven’t completely lost my marbles, so any walk I’m putting my hand up for has to offer plenty in the way of soft options. Wilsons pick you up from your Nelson accommodation, transport your luggage from point to point, provide backpacks, snacks and lunch and greet the weary, but self-satisfied, hiker with local wine, a fabulous dinner and a comfortable bed in their beautifully appointed lodges at the end of each day.

The park is utterly glorious, with the added advantage for an Australian that there is absolutely nothing lurking in the bushes or on the ground that is going to kill you. The walking paths are well-constructed tracks and, while there were a couple of steep climbs, there is no scrambling over rocks – which makes the whole experience generally accessible for anyone of reasonable fitness.

For us, the only downside was the weather – it began to rain first thing in the morning on our second day and just didn’t stop. Our kiwi cousins take this all in their stride. If they stayed inside because of rain they’d never get out at all, so they provide all the necessaries to keep us as dry as possible – which actually wasn’t very dry, really. While the weather wasn’t cold at all, it totally poured.

Our walk included a full day of kayaking on the open sea – not something I was up for, even with the promise of seeing lots of seals – but Wilsons Abel Tasman are flexible enough to work with varying preferences and skill sets, offering those of us who didn’t want to die on the open sea kayak a further walking option.

The guides are fabulous – warm, friendly, well trained and informed and totally sensitive to the needs of each individual in their walking groups. At the end of the day they turn their hand to hospitality, offering plenty of the wonderful local wines and generous meals featuring local produce. Wilsons Abel Tasman really offer the whole package – and an invigorating way to see their beautiful country.

Wilsons Abel Tasman three day package includes all transfers, wine, meals and accommodation. Cost per adult – $1470.

This IS NOT a sponsored post – all costs were independently paid for.

 

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