A Boxing Day Tramp

New Zealand must be one of th easiest places to visit. It's certainly the easiest place that we have been to.... if you ignore the 18,000km flight of course. But even that is relatively easy - I've had more stressful train journeys between York and Darlington. It's only time at the end of that day.

Anyway onto my point. New Zealand is such an easy place to visit. Firstly there are the New Zealanders themselves. Nothing is too much trouble. No worries. They genuinely, or at least that is the impression they give, seem to want you to have a good time. Then there are the the obvious similarities such as the driving on the same side of the road, cultural reference points and the widespread use of English. Ah, but that is where you come unstuck as there are some subtle differences.

Want a supermarket trolley? You can't get one, but you can get a supermarket trundler. I know. Want a job in a Highways department? Nope, but you can work in Roading. Where did that one come from? Then there is one of our favourite pastimes, hiking. Except in NZ it's called tramping. If I were to tell someone from the UK that I was 'looking for a good tramp' I would get an entirely different response. How about 'I really enjoyed the tramp'. Undoubtedly you would get a stunned look - probably followed by a visit from the local constabulary.

But today we enjoyed a good tramp in the forest. In fact it was one of New Zealand's classic tramps - along the AbelTasman  coastal path - with views across the bay, golden and secluded beaches and lush, green forest. 

Our lunch spot was particularly spectacular - we had the whole beach to ourselves, well except some rather nosey seagulls. 

Being one of the classic hikes, sorry tramps, it got busy on the return leg as people got over their Christmas hangovers and ventured out. But we were soon back in our hill top accommodation, far away from the trampers, and ready to settle down for Doctor Who. 

You can't beat a good tramp on Boxing Day.