The abel tasman is beautiful any time of year, one of the sunniest places in NZ, but lots of rain at the time I visited it. While wandering around in the middle of my boat trip out there I discovered an amazing array of birdlife unlike anything I'd ever come across anywhere else in the country.
I saw tui for the first time, flitting from tree to tree, singing to each other, fantails and other little birds I couldn't identify. We went past an island where seals lazed on the rocks and another one completely resonating with birdsong. It was great. I can't wait to go back there later this year and actually do some proper hiking.
