Three weeks in New Zealand - 4/12 - 5/4/2024

Day 13-Medlands Beach, Abel Tasman National Park- 4/22/2024

After resting and spending some time at Bark bay we are heading to Medlands Beach which is one of the key pick-up and drop-off points for Wilsons Abel Tasman tours.

We are now headed to Medlands Beach from Bark Bay.

Looking back at Bark Bay.

At Bark Bay, the beach is beautifully framed by two large rocky headlands or mountains one on each end creating a sheltered, picture-perfect cove. These rugged, forest-covered formations rise steeply from the edges of the bay, giving the beach a sense of being tucked away, almost like a hidden gem along the coast of Abel Tasman National Park.

At the far end of Bark Bay, the golden sand gives way to a rugged stretch of rocks and boulders, adding a wilder, more dramatic feel to this otherwise calm and sheltered bay.

These rocks are scattered along the shoreline, some partially buried in sand, others worn smooth by years of tides and waves.

This rocky end of the beach is likely where the tide comes in with more force, leaving behind a natural jumble of granite and driftwood. The boulders vary in size, some small enough to step across easily, others large enough to climb and sit on, perfect for watching the waves or just taking in the coastal scenery.

This rocky section adds to the character of Bark Bay. While the main beach is smooth and open, this end reminds you of the untamed beauty of Abel Tasman where even the quietest beaches have layers of history and raw, natural charm.

Then we had to through a forest.

We are now entering Medlands beach through the forest and it feels like we stepped into a secluded paradise.

Tucked between Bark Bay and Awaroa, Medlands Beach is known for its wide stretch of golden sand, calm turquoise waters, and a feeling of peaceful isolation.

Here you can see that the beach is backed by dense native forest.

Beautiful and quiet cove.

Panoramic view of the cove.

So quiet here and so beautiful.  The sun shining over the cove is a beautiful thing to see.

Kids playing and looking for tiny crabs and fish.

Amazing golden sand and such a gorgeous day to be out.

Seeing driftwood scattered across Medlands Beach adds a rugged, natural touch to its already pristine beauty. T

The golden sand is lined with sun-bleached logs, twisted branches, and weathered tree limbs all carried in by tides, storms, or nearby rivers and washed ashore over time.

The driftwood gives the beach a raw, untouched feel, reminding you that you're deep inside a national park where nature sets the rules. Some pieces are huge, like natural sculptures, smoothed by the sea and sun; others are tangled piles of smaller sticks and branches, perfect for perching on while you wait for your Wilsons boat.

This piece of driftwood is particularly interesting with a rock logged inside the branch.  It's also part of the local ecosystem to shelter insects, birds, and small crabs, and gradually breaking down into nutrients for the coastal environment. The presence of all that driftwood contrasts beautifully with the bright turquoise water and dense green bush behind the beach, making Medlands feel even more wild and elemental.

Our boat is arriving....

There is no dock, we just gathered around the shore while waiting for the boat.

Boarding our boat.

From the boat this is the view of Medlands beach surrounded by a dense forest.

Saying goodbye to the shore of Medlands beach.

It took about an hour to reach kaiteriteri and along the way we travel along the stunning coastline,  passing by formations, and the blue sparking blue of Tasman bay.

We have reached Kaiteriteri and we are starting to get off the boat.

Hoa leaving the boat.

I like this picture of people getting of the boat.

Once you get off the boat, you had to walk about 5/10 minutes on the beach to get to the parking lot.

Last look back at our boat dropping off people.

It was a wonderful trip with Wilsons Abel Tasman National park.  We choose the "Great day out" tour which is combination of boat cruising, hiking, and the beach. This is an all day tour,  we boarded their boat at 9:15AM and they dropped us off at around 5:30Pm.  It seems like a long day but it went by really quickly and we really enjoyed the tour.  If you interested you can check out the itinerary we did HERE

Before heading back to our hotel we decided to stop by the Waterfront restaurant located just in front of the Kaiteriteri Beach.  In the summer, this place is a zoo but since this is the fall there is barely anybody here.  Lucky for us, felt like we had the whole restaurant for ourselves.

A  coffee break for me and a nice cold beer for Hoa.  What a great view to end our day.

Dinner at Chokdee, Thai restaurant

Moetueka is a very small town serving as the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park. The town is charming with a friendly community vibes, and is a large enough to enjoy good food, culture, and services. Perfect if you’re visiting Abel Tasman!

We haven't had Asian food for two weeks so as soon as we saw Chokdee, a Thai restaurant we decided to give it a try.

We ordered a Thai Style Beef Salad and a Phad Rad Na (stir fried rice noodles in gravy)

Thailand's famous Thai Style Beef salad made with NZ Ribeye fillet thinly sliced, tossed with cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions then seasoned with our restaurant – made Thai dressing.

Kra Pow Moo grob, stir fried crispy pork belly with assorted vegetables.

Glad we stopped by to eat here.  It is definitely not a fancy restaurant but the food is decent and we also got pretty good service.

For dessert we got steamed wild rice in coconut with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

NEXT... Driving through the Marlborough wine region