Abel Tasman National Park was the destination for our action-packed day in Rākauroa / Torrent Bay. This park was named after Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who was the first European to anchor in Golden Bay in 1642. Prior to his arrival, the Māori had both permanent and seasonal settlements for two hundred years before Tasman’s visit
Our day consisted of many activities, including a few hiking options along the most famous of New Zealand’s tracks, the Abel Tasman Coastal Track, which took us through lush native bush, arid, alpine-like scrubs, coastal estuaries, and wetlands. The other options were kayaking in the turquoise water of the bay or simply lounging around on the golden sands to catch midsummer rays. The hotel staff treated us to a scrumptious lunch on the beach between activities. Back on the ship, cultural specialist Ebony Peeni shared an informative program on Māori traditional medicines.
