On Friday 13th (as we were constantly reminded by the superstitious kiwis- Black Friday), we rocked our way to Nelson, where we stopped for a couple of hours for a quick browse. We then carried on to Motueka and checked in with the Sea Kayaking Company for our 2-day adventure. After treating ourselves to yet another dinner and after much debate over where to park, we settled for the night in the public car park next to the I-site along with several other campervans, for possibly our most entertaining night’s camping! As we prepared ourselves for bed we became vaguely aware that rallying, drunken teens were conspicuously wandering through the car park and adjoining park. To our delight, what can only be assumed were joy riders then decided to perfect their handbrake turns outside our door. As all the other campervans mysteriously vanished we had visions of Cleopatra being rocked over in cow tipping stylee! We then migrated towards the beach, driving in our pyjamas, only to be woken up in the small hours by the wheel spinning of what can only be assumed as the same group. Armelle reckons Jess was being paranoid but that’s because she was sound asleep. We awoke the next morning to a surprisingly stunning sea-view and made our way to be kitted out in sexy water proofs that made us look like something out of Aladdin- crotches at the knees and drawn in ankles are the new fashion don’t cha know! We became acquainted with our easy-on-the-eye guide Manuel and after some sharp uphill turns in the mini bus, with kayaks flailing behind, we arrived at Marahau to connect with our water-taxi. We headed briefly south to take a look at split-apple rock, which impressed Armelle greatly due to her obsession with round rocks.
The drop off point was the beach within Tonga Island Marine Reserve, where we were given a quick intro into the day ahead. 
After 20 minutes of paddling and some mild issues with the steering we toured the circumference of Tonga Island admiring the seal pups, who’s yelps caused Armelle much distress, envisioning them to be in pain! 
We then landed at Bark Bay where we gorged ourselves on cake (less weight in the boat of course) and bid farewell to the 2 other members of our group. The beach looked like something out of a film as, in fact did the entire coastline, with clear blue water, golden sands and lush green vegetation behind. And cake bliss!
We then continued south to Anchorage Bay. On rounding North Head (south of South Head-go figure- one of a number of communication issues causing the names of places to be somewhat nonsensical), we were smacked in the face by a moderate wind and choppy seas, so that the end of the journey was a little more challenging than the beginning. Pulling the kayak up onto the beach, Jess was glad of a rest and chance to take in the view, whereas Armelle was disappointed not to be doing more kayaking. We then pottered off to Pitt Head to get a look at the coastline, before heading back to the houseboat for the night. 
On arrival we were told that despite being the last on board, we could have a private cabin as opposed to the squished dorm beneath beds. Result! 
A guy from Bournemouth showed us around and Jess couldn’t believe the boat had hot running water and a proper flushing toilet. Result again! Dinner that evening was a BBQ, and we chatted to a couple of German girls and a kiwi family, who gave us some great advice on the North Island and Fiji. With our new German friends we completed the 5-hour track back to Marahou, after a rather lengthy detour to the Cleopatra Pools. We stopped for lunch at one of the many gorgeous beaches and completed the rest of the track dreaming of dessert at the Park Café. 
On arrival we gorged ourselves on calories before being picked up by the trusty Mani and his not so trusty driving skills. That evening we dithered about where to camp for the night, as we’d promised ourselves not to drive the precariously windy road back to Nelson in the dark but which of course we ended up starting and then there was neither any going back nor any places to stop for aaaggggeeessss. We finally found a picnic site and braced ourselves for toilet a la bush. Next morning, after a brief stop at artistic Havelock, we completed the Queen Charlotte Drive, gazing at the Marlborough Sounds on the way to Picton, a small but pleasant port, where we spent a couple of hours before catching our ferry at 2:45pm on the 16th April.
On arrival we were told that despite being the last on board, we could have a private cabin as opposed to the squished dorm beneath beds. Result! A guy from Bournemouth showed us around and Jess couldn’t believe the boat had hot running water and a proper flushing toilet. Result again! Dinner that evening was a BBQ, and we chatted to a couple of German girls and a kiwi family, who gave us some great advice on the North Island and Fiji. With our new German friends we completed the 5-hour track back to Marahou, after a rather lengthy detour to the Cleopatra Pools. We stopped for lunch at one of the many gorgeous beaches and completed the rest of the track dreaming of dessert at the Park Café. On arrival we gorged ourselves on calories before being picked up by the trusty Mani and his not so trusty driving skills. That evening we dithered about where to camp for the night, as we’d promised ourselves not to drive the precariously windy road back to Nelson in the dark but which of course we ended up starting and then there was neither any going back nor any places to stop for aaaggggeeessss. We finally found a picnic site and braced ourselves for toilet a la bush. Next morning, after a brief stop at artistic Havelock, we completed the Queen Charlotte Drive, gazing at the Marlborough Sounds on the way to Picton, a small but pleasant port, where we spent a couple of hours before catching our ferry at 2:45pm on the 16th April.
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