The road from Havelock to Motueka which is where Wilsons, the company which runs the Abel Tasman walk, is based runs over the Pelorus river. From the bridge DOC manages a number of tracks. We didn’t have time to go very far but we were able to walk up the river for a short while to a swing bridge and back. The river scenery at this spot is quite beautiful.
Back on SH6 we drove up towards Nelson to meet up with Jim Kennard again for lunch. The road passes over the Bryant Range and is steep and twisting at this point.
Having joined up with Jim we drove into the city to buy some batteries for the GPS.
We then went to Founders Park. This is another area where historic buildings and artefacts from the city and surrounding area have been brought in order to preserve them and for display. It also has an excellent café with brewery attached. Or perhaps it is the other way round.
We enjoyed both lunch and a nostalgic walk round (many of the items on display were in use in our childhood) before setting off to Motueka.
When we got there we checked into the motel then drove to Wilsons to make sure we knew what was to happen in the morning. We borrowed a back pack to supplement the one we had brought from UK and were given a small hold-all in which to pack any clothes and other things we wanted for use overnight in the lodges we were to stay in. (Unlike the Milford track, we did not have to carry everything we needed on the track. Wilsons transported the hold-alls.) We also picked up large plastic bags to act as waterproof liners for both the back packs and hold-all.
Back to the motel via the local New World supermarket to buy supper.