Tramping in New Zealand

Just got back from four days out of internet contact - in fact we were away from roads, electricity and hot water, too! Jacqui and I have been trekking (or tramping as it's called here) in the Abel Tasman Park, which is an unspoilt area of coast and forest. We walked over wooded headlands from one pristine, deserted beach to another - all with yellow sand and turquoise water - where we swam and sunbathed. They were the sort of beach I really like, with not a building in sight, but most had little campsites, so there were toilets provided. At night we stayed in huts, cooking on a little camping stove and sleeping on huge communal sleeping platforms with random strangers either side. All quite an adventure for me! It was great fun, and lovely to have just the essentials and be close to nature (though I got a bit too close to the sandflies!). It also means you really appreciate hot showers and real beds when you get back.

On the way home we stopped at a "catch your own" fish farm, where I caught and killed my own salmon. Another first for me! I've always said you shouldn't really eat animals and fish unless you're prepared to kill them, but whilst I found fishing very relaxing, I won't be killing anything again unless I am stranded on a desert island and facing starvation! (except sandflies - I'll kill them quite happily.)