Abel Tasman!!

Waiting on our water taxi to take us to Onetahuti for the start of day 1!!

Water taxi being pulled down the beach and launched by tractor.

The water taxi ride is always an adventure and the girls were quite vocal - in this short video clip you can hear the driver yell at them to "shut up" - so funny!

Disembarking in Onetahi

The first day we walked to Bark Bay and then stayed in a hut for the night.

Early morning in the hut.

View from the Bark Bay hut.

And we're off!! Walking today to Anchorage.

Anchorage Hut - one of the newer ones .

So it was not the best weather forecast the day we walked to Anchorage and right after we got there it started pouring!! Soon enough everyone walking or kayaking or camping was trying to squeeze into the common area of the hut - it was a hot sweaty mess. Katie didn't mind squeezing next to the cute boys though.

We played a LOT of cards!!

After many hours there was finally a break in the rain so the girls had a very chilly swim - notice those watching are in coats!

The next morning the view from the hut was stunning!! We backtracked a little to go see Cleopatra Pools and then water taxied out.

Heading to the falls.

Shortcut?

After seeing the falls the girls soaked in some sun while waiting for the water taxi.

The Floridians Arrive!!

So the party we planned for the Martins and Samantha in Wellington wasn't to be. They had the most horrendous travel experience trying to get here! First their flight from Florida to LA was cancelled due to bad weather in their layover state, so they re-booked on a direct flight and were told their luggage might not make it. Then when they got to LA their flight to NZ kept getting pushed back so they spent many extra hours there - which had us worried if they would make their connection in Auckland and also had us scrambling to borrow tramping clothes in case their luggage didn't get here. They finally got on the plane only to have it turn back to LA five hours into the flight!!! So they weren't even in the country for the day we had planned to have them in Wellington before heading down to the South Island to do the Abel Tasman walk. They scrambled to book themselves on a direct flight to Nelson from Auckland for their new arrival date/time and we scrambled to cancel the party plans. Eventually all was sorted and they arrived in Auckland sometime around midnight and taxi'd to Kate and Ant's where Wills was waiting up for them. They managed to have a shower and a couple of hours of sleep before getting up early the next morning to try and find their luggage before catching their flight to Nelson. Tom Howard came over and took care of them in the morning - what a great bunch the Howards are! We got ourselves up early and caught the ferry and picked them up in Nelson and we met up with Hamish Howard for lunch which was awesome. 

Stay and Wills at 3 Gardner Road at about 3 am when they finally arrived!!

Our beautiful ferry crossing - coming into the Sounds.

Girls on the ferry

We caught up with the weary travelers in Nelson airport.

Together again!! 

Sisters xx

Selfie with Hamish

Morrison girls decided to wharf jump - here goes Meggie

Josie

Katie 

Ellie took awhile to decide

Finally decided to do it if Meggie jumped with her.

After lunch we drove to our Backpackers where stayed one night before we began the Great Walk the next day. Josie and Meggie were handing out the food for the backpacks.

School's out for summer!!!

I had a great first year back to work with this lady! I was a teacher aide in her classroom and really enjoyed it. My girls all loved when they were in Mrs. Barlow's class and so did I :).

The staff gave me these beautiful flowers at our end of the year Christmas dinner. 

Katie attempting to get in the back door when she forgot her key.

My front steps are an indication as to how filthy things are getting.

Ellie and friends celebrated the last day of school at the Karori Pool.