New Year in Nelson

It's a very "Kiwi" tradition to take annual holiday leave to get out of the cities and go exploring more remote areas of the country. Adam and I began our own version of this tradition by hopping on a very small flight to the South Island.Flying with SoundsAir was perhaps the highlight of my airflight travel career.

THIS is exactly how we all should travel:
Step 1- show up to airport 10 minutes before flight to hand over luggage. Skip any sort of security, identification checkpoints, or otherwise beaurocratic stuff.
Step 2- walk out onto the runway and climb into the plane - choose your own seat from the 12 or so available - all of which are within poking distance of the pilot.
Step 3 - Enjoy a gorgeous scenic flight across the Cook Strait. View slight turbulence as a free rollercoaster ride.
Step 4 - Disembark from grass strip landed aircraft 20 minutes after take-off to retrieve your bag that was directly handed to you from the pilot. Then it's off to your adventures!

Having made our way to the coastal city of Nelson (only one 2 and half detour later) our first order of business was to find Adam's parents Bed and Breakfast. We left them a cryptic message consisting of mascara and TimTams before hunting out our own dinner at a great little Mediterranean restaurant. The next morning, having made the "big reveal" that we were in town, we all headed out on a walking tour of Nelson. Our first scenic stop was in the botanical gardens which surrounds this picturesque pond. At least, I thought it was simply lovely until my living nightmare reavealed itself from among the leaves and lily ponds...EELS!!! I've seen The Princess Bride one too many times from too early an age to have any kind thoughts for this slimy mistake of creation. I still have vivid memories of my dear sister's horrible nightmares about the hideous shrieking eels and being dragged to the stretching machine. On the other hand, the water sculputre art was pretty...

Another important stop on the tour was to the actual jeweler who was commissioned by Peter Jackson to create the 40+ different rings for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Here, Adam models the ring that was filmed in the opening credits. Can't you just hear him now, "My preciousssss."


The view from a tree is always the best one in the park. This tree was lucky enough to inhabit the cathedral courtyard that watches over the valley of Nelson.

Having bid Steve and Linda adieu for another few weeks while they continue their Southward travels, Adam and I headed out to Abel Tasman National Park for some good ol' sea kayaking. Our Big Tonga tour included two different water taxi adventures, several seal-infested nature reserve islands, and even kayak-sailing (which is taking the lunch blanket and holding up two ends on top of kayak paddles to create a "sail" by which to catch Tasman Sea wind.

Split Apple Rock...you get the idea.


Lazy days of seal watching. Our kayaking guide describes seals as "Gangsters in sleeping bags" because they're grumpy - but they don't move around very quickly. Adam and I were particularly impressed by the "gangsta' pups" who are just in their first few weeks of life. It isn't for a few more months, apparently, that the pups get up the strength, courage, and curiosity to start invading the tourist infested waters and begin their antics of climbing up on kayaks and chewing on paddles.


Wind baked and sun fried, we relaxed after our day of kayaking with some friends from Wellington in their campground for New Years Eve. Great pizza, pop, and people added up to an awesome way to be among the very first in the world to greet 2011. The evening even included an amazing sunset.


Happy New Year everyone!