Tour of Beauty

Times journalist Paul Grogan undertook a two-day kayaking tour of Abel Tasman National Park with local company Wilson’s Experiences. “Gaining in confidence, we rock-hop along the coast, ducking in and out of little lagoons and darting through giant granite archways made smooth by sand and tide,” he writes. “At Falls River, we’re swept gently upstream by the fast-flowing waters of a tidal race. At Pinnacle Island, we watch in wonder as half a dozen seals dive, swoop and roll beneath our boats, belly up and close enough to touch.” As well as learning about the history of the area and admiring its breathtaking views, the touring group dined on local produce, drank organic NZ wine and stayed overnight at the imposing Torrent Bay Lodge.