Maxwell Slatten

tales from the road

11-15 July/An Audiovisual Journey Through Abel Tasman

A view from one of the first viewpoints along the trail.

The Mission:

We were an international crew: Melanie from Canada, Jiří from Czechia, Alfie from Scotland, and me. Having all met while working in a hostel on the west coast just a month before, we stumbled into a 5-day hike through some of New Zealand’s most scenic landscapes. The plan was to spend the week walking along the Abel Tasman Coastal Track, a 60 km trail following the coast of Abel Tasman National Park. We planned a leisurely pace, taking the full 4 nights at the supplied backcountry huts. I captured the trip through a roll of Kodak Gold and a documentary on my camcorder.

Melanie and I setting out on our second day. Alfie featured in the rear.
Mel watching the sunrise just outside Anchorage hut.
Mel and Jiří looking out from the rudimentary dock at Torrent Bay.
The crew crossing the Falls River suspension bridge.
An ill framed self timer shot.
Alfie sitting in Awaroa hut.
Drinking away the hunger pains.
The crew setting off from Awaroa hut on the fourth day.
A view back to Awaroa hut halfway through the tidal crossing.
Alfie and his obligatory midday smoke.
The crew (plus Sandra, a friend we made along the trail) setting off from Whariwharangi hut on the morning of our fifth and last day.
Celebrating the finish line.

The Documentary

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