One of the couple boat operators we used in the Abel Tasman park. While there is no significant…read moredifference between all of them, I would say Sea Shuttle is less crowded. Ultimately the choice will come down to the timetables of their departure/pickups, as this will define how much of hiking you get to do. They also have three day passes at about $150 NZ $, which is a great deal if you are staying around the park for a few days.

I had a tour with Kaiteriteri Kayaks and they used the Sea Shuttle bus to pick me up from Nelson…read more Our driver was HILARIOUS and such a joy. It's obvious he loves his job and is passionate about the area. I didn't ride on the Sea Shuttle boat, but it looked very crowded.

We did the Split Apple Rock/ Toka Ngawhā 3-hour tour from 9AM-12PM which launched from the shores…read moreof Kaiteriteri Beach (or Kaiteretere in Maori for "a hurried meal"). This was a mixed group outing on a waka, a traditional Maori outrigger canoe. We ended up with 3 other participants who signed up online and were led by Lea, our guide. Not only was she our guide, imparting cultural knowledge and stories of the Maori people, but she taught us all the cues/ commands to paddle in sync with our newly formulated team. We also learned a powerful "haka" cry, to instill fear into other fellow paddlers also visiting the Split Apple Rock (and end up on social media while at it, haha). It was a powerful, confidence inducing paddle, and new and different. Paddling with strangers might seem weird, but the experience, under the guidance of Lea, made it feel quite natural and fun too. You do not need any experience to sign up. Just come with an open mind. And a full belly since the paddle could be quite vigorous, although you do get plenty of breaks along your course to the "burst open rock" and even a little hang out opportunity on the way back at one of the nearby golden sanded beaches. This 3-hour tour was perfect for experiencing Abel Tasman NP, without eating too much time into your day. Extra bonus if you have sunshine which we were so grateful to have during our outing! Todd, the owner, was super kind too. Kind enough to offer some recommendations of local eats and drinks before wishing us well for the rest of our day. Thank you Waka Abel Tasman for the most gratifying cultural experience!

Clearest spring water in the world? And second clearest water in the world after a sea in…read moreAntarctica? Yep, definitely worth the 10 minute drive from Takaka to check it out. Don't expect to spend all day here, this is a quick "tick it off the list" type of stop. They've built a very nice walking platform that gets you up close and personal to the two clearest spots, and a small outdoor visitors center that explains exactly how the water is so clear (something to do with the insane amount of water* that flows through each second). Look, it's not something I would put on my "must see in New Zealand" list, but if you're in the area, absolutely make the 30 minute detour. Considering how many amazing things there are to see on the south Island, it says a lot that this doesn't come close to the top. Because it's absolutely stunning. *When I say "insane amount of water," even giving you the number of liters or gallons won't help, so to put it in perspective, it's enough water to fill 40 bathtubs every second. Insane.

These guys are the ones who put on the Wairua Warrior obstacle course race! They also just set up…read morea spin room with a bunch of brand new spin bikes. This is THE GYM to go to in Nelson (in Stoke actually). So different than a 'traditional' gym. You got to try it!