Abel Tasman Backpack - day one

Our first backpack in New Zealand was taken over our spring break in September. The kids get two weeks off school, and we decided to take another week for a good long holiday. 20 days!
John made plans for us to drive up to the most northern tip of the south island. This area is simply amazing. The Abel Tasman is New Zealands smallest National Park. It is named for the Dutch Explorer that was the the first known European to find New Zealand . This area is protected from nasty weather in the bay, it is known as being the most sunny spot in NZ. So we really did luck out with gorgeous weather after 6 weeks of nasty winter rain in Dunedin.

What I  loved about the Abel Tasman was the mixes the physical exertion of  backpacking with beautiful relaxing beach life. Bursts of hiking are punctuated by sun bathing, swimming or laying around on the beach. Also the native wildlife is an essential part of the scenery. Tui and bellbird song fills the thick forests. There are little blue penguins in the area (we didn't see any) but we ran into over 20 fur seals! This was on our last day in the backcountry exploring the edge of the Tonga Reserve lounging on the garnet rock. We have never been on a back pack where we were so engaged with finding Sea life such as crabs, jelly fish and Seals.

Ellie showing where we begin and end.

Jen and John at the begining of the backpack along the Tasman Sea

Ready with heavy packs for the tramp

Alex on the beach on the first day of hiking. Frequently folks would sea kayak onto the beaches we were hanging-out on. Looked fun to do.

Ellie and a little crab she found in the Sea's water edge at lunch time.

Gorgeous day! Finally going downhill to our first night camp.

Family photo!

Ellie plays in our bunk house - it was full, so we slept in here with 8 other strangers!

The Bunk house kitchen - full of folks from around the world. We met people from France, Spanin, Germany and England. No Kiwis.

That evening we walked around Anchorage Bay and checked out all the Giant Jelly fish that were beaching themselves.

Click here to watch a video we took of Anchorage Bay and Jellyfish. Jellyfish Video

Dead Jellyfish on beach with Jen's foot

Extreme Children

Most folks associate extreme sports with New Zealand, after all the bungy jump was invented here along with a long list of other crazy ideas to scare yourself. Ever heard of Zorb or a Wind Tunnel? Alex of course loves to watch shows like "Nitro Circus" and "Jack Ass" so he has scene these activities before (no we don't condone these shows - in fact we don't have cable!) However, we do many other activities ourselves that constitutes extreme sports such as Rock Climbing, Mountain biking and Double Black Diamond Skiing fairly consistently as a family, so of course we had to buy into the NZ philosophy of pushing the limits of fear and physical abilities.

Luckily for us, there are many ways to scare yourself if Rotauroa. (If you have the money!) After much consideration, the kids chose their poison. I was happy that at least one activity was together since Ellie misses out so much being younger and not skilled enough to keep up sometimes.

The ZORB and The Wind Tunnel!

Top of the hill

 
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Rolling down the hill together _ On their first go - it was filled with soapy water and they tumbled together down the hill. The Zorb is double-sectioned, with one ball inside the other with an air layer between. This acts as a shock absorber for the rider, damping bumps while traveling. 
Not so extreme.



Weeeeeeeee!

Super Fun! YEAH!

Happy Alex!

Thumbs up!

Ok,so I admit that I never thought that my children would be defying gravity in a wind tunnel. Alex and Ellie put on wind suits made special for being blasted by 1200cubic metres of pressured air. I wanted to do it too!

The kids had to practice with the experts on how to move their bodies.Because the wind is so loud, they will have to watch the helpers on deck and watch their hand motions. 

WHOAH! Click here to watch a video of Alex in the Wind Tunnel

Ellie's Turn!

They start on the mesh, then the wind machine blows them up into the air. Ellie did not want to be let go and "free fly". But, she wasn't scared. She had a smile on her face the whole time!

Click here to watch video of Ellie Flying!

The kids watching a film of their experience. Sweet Az!

Regular fun at night in one of New Zealand's children Parks. Yes, they have zip-lines here.

Classic Ellie!

New Zealand Hot Springs Tour

Warm and cozy Ellie

So this is a great perk of traveling in NZ. Stopping the car to soak in hot water. We have been doing a ton of driving and having a little car equals the kids bouncing off of each-other (fights and annoying body sound effects). So, john and I really appreciate the calming and almost "drug-like" affect it has on the kids. They go totally chill and we can proceed on after a soak with a content family again.

This might have been one of our favorite soaks at 
Mauria Hot Springs. http://www.maruiasprings.co.nz/
Private and public traditional Japanese hotpools and plunge pool in a spectacular mountain setting. The heat for these pools is managed through the natural thermal activity that occurs in the area, so after heavy rainfall the pool temperatures can be affected. The time was right though, and we got to experience a feeling of nature and calm even though it was a paid resort. It reminded us of Jerry Johnson hotsprings in Idaho. Good form.

Japanese hotsprings

Jen enjoying Maoura Hotsprings

Dad and Alex



Kids ready to get in warm milk bath at the Traditional Natural Japaneses hot springs



Alex at Maoura Springs

HAMMER HOT SPRINGS

Alex and Ellie in the kids section at Hammer Springs



Hammer Springs

The Hammer Springs Thermal Pools http://www.hanmersprings.co.nz/ offers a wide range of experiences, from soothing indulgence to exciting family fun. We enjoyed the rock and sulphur pools. The kids loved the a family activity area - complete with water slides. This was a massive resort and super commercial which usually isn't what John and I dig, but of course the kids love this sort of thing...and ok, ok, I love water slides too.

Dad and Alex in the hot sulfur pool



Alex and Mama Jen

Tokaanu Thermal Pools

Private hotspings near Turangi on the north island

 Happy Ellie and dad

Ellie chillin out in the kids area near Turangi

The Tokaanu natural thermal pools have for five centuries been recognised by the Ngati Tuwharetoa people, for bathing, cooking and dyeing of clothes. Europeans started to use the pools extensively once Tokaanu was established as a major stopover on the Grand Tour stage coach run from Wanganui to Taupo in the 1800s. These pools were and are a very welcome way to rejuvenate.
Also near the hotsprings were a lovely little track around bubbling mud pots and extremely hot and dangerous geysers.

just like Yellowstone!

Because of all the many active volcanoes in the area - there are many crazy hotsprings and mud pots around Turangi. What makes it so hot? The Tokaanu area is part of the active Taupo volcanic zone, as is sometimes demonstrated with eruptions from Mt Ruapehu. The natural mineral waters you in today, first reached the area as snow and rain, which over the years has percolated into the ground. It soon came into contact with the hot volcanic rock far below the surface and was eventually driven back up to the surface as hot thermal springs rich in minerals.

Click here to check out our backcountry soak in a volcanic stream on the north island called Kerosene Creek Hotsprings