Totaranui

Totaranui is a campground located on the north west side of Abel Tasman. Getting there requires driving inland around the park and entering again from the Golden Bay side, then traversing windy dirt roads. It was well worth the trek! There were just a handful of campers there, and the sites are huge.

The big attraction here are the tramping tracks (hiking trails) outfitted with huts. Apparently, when the government decided to conserve this area, they offered to buy the homes and properties of people within the park boundaries. Some sold, others stayed. Of those who sold, the homes have been converted for use as bakpacking camps, or huts. The huts are generally a day's walk apart, and you can stay up to two nights in each hut, although you need to buy tickets from DoC as the number of people is regulated. There are some regular tent camps as well. We are already strategizing our next trip and Able Tasman's tramping tracks are at the top!


view going over the pass



We arrived here just at sunset, and were able to enjoy beautiful skies.



Sunset




The morning was gorgeous and clear! Perfect day for a long walk.



Beautiful drifts of seashells on the beach


And a lovely sand dollar


The estuary at high tide


Totaranui Head


Here's the map for our day's walk. We headed out from camp to the left (east) and skirted around the estuary, over the little pass and up to the next bay, then back around Totaranui Head to camp.


The original owner of this area wanted to make a grand entrance to his home from the sea, so planted a row of massive Monterey cypress and London plane trees. Today, just this one majestic cypress is left, and all of the London plane trees remain. It is still quite remarkable.


Heading up the pass and looking back to the estuary and camp.


This great fern was growing on the trail cuts of the hillside.


We emerged from the trail at this tranquil beach called Anapai Bay, which has a tent camp (and restroom!!!).


Jon went for a little exploration adventure up the beach,


While Kim attempted to watercolor.


Granite formations on the beach





Nesting cormorants...you can see a baby on the right.


After leaving the beach, we hiked up to Totaranui Head, and I mean straight up! We were rewarded once again with magnificent views.


Jon in the forest.


Our campsite is down on that beautiful beach above Kim's head.


The path wound back down towards the estuary, where we were able to cross now at low tide.


It's amazing that this was full of water just this morning.


We relaxed on the beach with some cold beers and watched the sunset...again!


We got up relatively early the next day (for us) and headed out. We decided to get some more exercise today, so the next stop is a 45 minute walk out to a waterfall!