Totaranui by sea shuttle
In the calm water of the boat harbour, Keith manouvers the barge close to the ramp. Then it comes in under its own outboard power. Photos: Marg Braggins.
Keith Knapp, skipper of Abel Tasman Sea Shuttles and regular visitor to ntarakohe this summer, had his work cut out last Thursday.
Towing his barge, Keith delivered a bus from Totaranui to Tarakohe in about 25 knots of north-westerly wind. It was his 31st trip between Totaranui and Tarakohe with the barge this summer, and it was certainly one of the most challenging. Keith has also done twice-daily shuttle runs from Tarakohe to Totaranui and return almost every day since before Christmas.
“The forecast talked about light sea breezes and it was calm when we left Totaranui this morning,” said Keith that day. “The stretch from Separation Point to Wainui was a little bit tricky in these conditions.”
The bus on the barge belongs to Peter Nicol, who has been living in it at Totaranui while working there for the Department of Conservation.
“I drove it in before the rain and the slips,” said Peter. “I had to bring it out by sea because I need it for my next job on the apples in Moutere. Keith and his whole crew are excellent seamen.”
The Nissan bus, powered by a 12.6 litre diesel motor, used to belong to a Japanese University. It was landed safe and sound on the boat ramp at Tarakohe, and Peter drove off very happily.
Keith explained that his shuttle service had proved very popular with campers determined to go to Totaranui even when there was no road access. The fare is $30 one way or $50 return, and that return trip can be made at any time.
Keith decided to put on the scheduled service when he was contracted by DOC to barge in some diggers to enable their staff to begin repairing slip damage to tracks after the big rain event. He had spare capacity in his fleet of shuttles and was able to staff the service.
“It’s been a terrific short-term option and people have been very pleased to take advantage of it. We’ve been pretty full some days with people and their gear. Mostly they have been sensible about the amount of gear they’ve brought. We were a bit surprised by the people who wanted to take their trampoline though.
“We’ll keep it going as long as sufficient people want to use us. It was never just about the money for us, though. We were happy to offer the service at this end of the park so that campers would still come in via Golden Bay. ”
The loading and unloading process would have been very time-consuming on the busy days if the crew had been obliged to do it all on their own. Keith soon devised a solution and, after one full load arrived at Tarakohe, the human chain stretched all the way from the shuttle to the turn-around area. It still took about an hour to get all the gear off.
“Almost everyone pitched in and enjoyed helping,” said Keith. “People like doing something constructive together.”
Keith and Peter both said that the camping experience at Totaranui has been very different this year.
Apparently some people have said that they prefer the camp without vehicles arriving and leaving.
“It’s lovely and quiet - like being on an island. Parents can just let their kids roam without having to worry about traffic,” said Peter. “I think there were only about 300 adults in around New Year rather than the 850-odd that are usually there, so it has been very stress-free and relaxed.”
Neil Wilson
