Arrival on the South Island

So many things done and seen since Blenheim...
When I saw that the weather was getting better in Nelson, I ran for it instantly. I stayed there only one night and continued driving to Marahau, one of the entrance to Abel Tasman National Park.
On my first day there, I took the water taxi to Torrent Bay. From there, I walked 3 hours until Onetahuti. On my way by boat, I saw the Split Apple Rock, and on my way back I saw Tonga Island marine reserve where you will most likely see seals.

I went down a bit south to Motueka to spend the night. The day later I had booked a day in the park again to do some canyoning with Abel Tasman Canyons. I returned into the park with the water taxi and "canyoned" down the Torrent River.
The following day, I booked yet another day canyoning into the park, but on the northern part this time, which is Waterfall Creek.

I continued my route further north afterwards, up to Farewell Spit.
I walked to Wharariki Beach where there is (once more) a seal colony.

I met 2 French guys in this area that I followed for 2 days. The first night we tried a freedom camping near Takaka. Too bad we woke up early because of a ranger who told us we could not stay there without a van which is self contained.
In the afternoon, we went to a reggae festival at the Tui community in the Wainui Inlet. Funny to see hippies and reggae without alcohol and weed, but it was supposed to be family friendly.
 We thought we could spend the night in the community's field which was the carpark, but late in the night, someone said that it was impossible to stay. Anyway, they told us we could continue the gravel road for a minute and park at the end of the road. Nice place, but I smelled something fishy when I saw an Abel Tasman National Park sign when getting there. Well, it did not fail, a ranger woke everybody up early and wanted to give us a fine. After explaining that there was a festival the day before, he allowed us to leave immediately without a fine.
I ended my night at the I Site in Takaka, like the day before.
In the afternoon, I drove back to Nelson to spend the night.
The day later, I drove south, for a change, to Nelson Lakes National Park, one of the park I visited 2 years ago. The view is still amazing, but fuck the sand flies, they ate me alive.
 First day on Mt Robert Ridge Track, and slept near Lake Rotoroa:
4h10min walk / Peak at 1730m / ascend of 1000m

Afterwards, I continued south to Lewis Pass, where I walked the Lewis Pass Tops. Too bad I could not go up to the end and see the tarns, maybe another time. It is damn hard to start a walk like that in the afternoon. I will avoid this in the future.
2h00min walk / Peak at 14700m / ascend of 680m

Now I am back in Nelson for 3 nights to do some laundry, wash the van, and buy groceries. I will then go to Marlborough Sounds on Friday.
Two pictures on my way back:

Pupu springs, the clearest water in the world?

More pictures here