Fresh & sublime
From adventure to arts trails and vineyards, the Tasman region and surrounds has it all, writes Mike Yardley
IF YOU’RE MAKING PLANS for some fresh and sublime adventures this spring and summer, sun-splashed Tasman Bay, at the top of the South, is a spell-binding proposition.
Tickle your toes in the golden sand, savour drool-worthy food, feast your eyes on the burgeoning arts trail, graze from the vineyards and famed craft beer scene or try your hand at some enthralling soft adventure.
Cable Bay Adventure Park certainly ticks all the boxes for thrilling outdoorsy adventures. Champion multi-sporters Richard and Elina Ussher took over the 400-hectare site three years ago — and it’s continuing to charge ahead in leaps and bounds. Their vision is driven by an abiding desire to be great custodians of the land.
Their nursery is pumping out more than 50,000 native seedlings a year, powering the afforestation programme. One of the best ways to appreciate the verdant splendour at Cable Bay is to enjoy a fling with the park’s signature attraction, the Skywire.
The tour starts with a 4km ride in one of their four-wheel-drive vehicles, passing through pristine native forest. The Skywire is set 300m above the base cafe, serving up delirious views of Cable and Delaware bays, the western ranges and north towards D’urville Island.
Billed as the world’s longest flying fox experience, this 3.2km ride hoists you across the canopy, 150m above the forest’s wondrous mosaic of green.
The Skywire seats up to four “flyers” at a time, not dissimilar to a chairlift, with around 1000m of gravity assisted freewheeling, reaching speeds of up to 100km, before the ride beats to a more sedate pace allowing you to drool over the scenery, while filling your Insta-feed. Then you do it all again — backwards. I adored it. There’s no other ride in New Zealand quite like it.
The park also boasts its own dedicated paintball area, Argo amphibious vehicle rides, quad bikes tours and bike trails — which are constantly expanding. Eager to hit the pedals around the shoreline of Tasman Bay, I hooked up with Andrew Schwass and the team at Kiwi Journeys, who specialise in self-guided and supported tours on Nelson’s Great Taste Trail and the
West Coast Wilderness Trail, with handily located bases strung across the region, at Nelson, Mapua Wharf and Kaiteriteri.
Andrew kitted me out with an Avanti e-bike for my fabulous foray on the Great Taste Trail from Richmond to Mapua Wharf, traversing the Waimea Estuary, which was bustling with wading and sea birds.
The wonderfully wobbly Waimea suspension bridge adds a frisson to the ride, before the scenery switches to the fertile orchards and pastoral land edging the shoreline.
A sociable team of Clydesdale horses bounded up to the fence line for a passing pat before I zipped along to Rabbit Island, where the sprawling white sands stretch out like an ironing board, under the bright sunshine. The unspoilt 13km tidal beach is beloved for swimming and it’s a super popular picnic spot under the welcome shade of those mighty pines.
Finally, we crossed over the western entrance of the Waimea Inlet to Mapua Wharf via the trusty Mapua Ferry. If you want to take your blissed-out encounters with the wondrous embrace of Tasman Bay and Abel Tasman National Park to the next level later this year, Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures is just the ticket. Their platter of skippered tours includes daily scheduled sailing tours, private personalised sailing tours, and multi day sailing holidays, powered by their fleet of catamarans.
With worldly and experienced skippers, endowed with local knowledge, at the helm of their fleet, you could not wish for a more authentic, inspiring and illuminating holiday experience on the water. They will share the region’s secrets with you, leading you to the seductive nooks and hidden gems that many people skip.
The region’s best local tourism providers have banded together to bring you their most popular activities in one spot, Extraordinary Experiences. There’s something for everyone, from exploring the stunning Abel Tasman with Abel Tasman Sea Shuttles or on a sailing adventure from Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures. Stay the night at gorgeous Awaroa Lodge or chill out in Kaiteriteri.
Try your hand at paddle boarding at Tahunanui, explore the cycle trails with Kiwi Journeys, go wild at Cable Bay Adventure Park, or go even higher with Tasman Helicopters.