Roadtrip Day 3: Queen Charlotte Track & Drive

Queen Charlotte Track, Marlborough Sounds

Spent the morning and early afternoon walking part of the Queen Charlotte Track. It was a nice track which also allowed bike riding which would have been even more fun.

We then left and headed west towards Abel Tasman Park. In Nelson we got word that the weather was due to turn bad soon, so we decided to drive straight through all the way to the park hoping that the next day we could catch some good weather while in the park. There is only one camping spot accessible by car in Abel Tasman, which was at the end of a long, narrow, windy, gravel road. We got in late and tired.

Campground review for Wingpig: DOC campground at Totaranui, Abel Tasman
If you are going into the park by car this is your only choice, but it's a great place to stay. HUGE campground with room for hundreds of tents, big communal firepits (fires are rarely allowed at NZ campgrounds), on a beautiful little beach and a great part of the coastal track. Only downside is that all you get is drinkable water, longdrop toilets, and a cold shower if you're lucky--but that's how camping is meant to be, right! Your other option for camping in Abel Tasman is to get a water taxi into another spot on the track, or kayak into the park with your gear from the south side.