SIMPLY DO IT!! I can't heap enough praise on this full day trip. If the tides are on your side, start from Awaroa Bay and kayak past the seals to Shag Harbour. This place is not to be missed - a beautiful peaceful natural harbour that is just incredible to experience. On our trip the winds were right and we were able to join the kayaks together and sail to... read moreSIMPLY DO IT!! I can't heap enough praise on this full day trip. If the tides are on your side, start from Awaroa Bay and kayak past the seals to Shag Harbour. This place is not to be missed - a beautiful peaceful natural harbour that is just incredible to experience. On our trip the winds were right and we were able to join the kayaks together and sail to our next bay. And then the highlight for us - while resting at Mosquito Bay, we heard about 2 nearby orcas. There was a mad scramble to get out on the water to then have the delight of 2 orcas swimming past us. Superb.

Daryl was our guide and he was simply excellent and kept us well topped up with "home made" chocolate chip cookies. The service was brilliant all day and the provided lunch was delicious.

None of the other kayak companies go this far in to the National Park which meant we were alone for much of the trip.

As I said before... JUST DO IT!! read less

We did the 2 night 3 day ‘remote coast overnighter’ option, with the first day a guided kayak through the marine reserve, followed by two nights walking out of the park, camping at the end of the kayaking day at Bark Bay and the second night at Anchorage. Both campsites were stunning beaches as all of them are. Bark Bay was camping on the sand back from the beach,... read moreWe did the 2 night 3 day ‘remote coast overnighter’ option, with the first day a guided kayak through the marine reserve, followed by two nights walking out of the park, camping at the end of the kayaking day at Bark Bay and the second night at Anchorage. Both campsites were stunning beaches as all of them are. Bark Bay was camping on the sand back from the beach, it had fascinating kaka (cheeky native parrots recently released into the wild there). There is a cold (public) beach shower at both locations which was an unexpected bonus to freshen up after a dip in the sea. Anchorage was a grassed canpsite next to another stunning golden beach with interesting caves at the end, lovely for a quiet evening explore when the beach was almost empty despite being peak season. We were blessed with perfect weather and the trip was very well organised with high safety and environmental standards. Non kiwis might need to be aware the sea is not tropical island warm in early Jan, but is fine if you’re used to cooler sea swimming (and if not, take a deep breath and do it.)
Darren has decades of experience guiding the region and spoke about lots of different topics from geology, flora and fauna, and some of the environmental issues and politics of the region. We both felt safe in his hands and enjoyed the trip so much. Saw dolphins, seals and sea lions, a couple of bobbing penguins, and stunning birdlife. By far the best trip we have done despite now having done quite a few guided adventures in our home NZ and overseas. Whether alone or with a friend or group, I fully recommended Abel Tasman Kayaks for a taste of kiwi adventure in one of the most stunning relatively unspoilt environments on this planet. read less

Great family friendly adventure, loved the information about the park, the walks to explore, fully catered yummy meals. Our guide Lou was a great resource, lover of NZ outdoors and great at checking in on the various needs of our group. Loved that we got a bit of everything from the weather Gods and excited we got to add penguin spotting to our check list.

My wife and I just returned from a 2 day trip with ATK - we started our adventure in Marahau and took a 40 minute water taxi up the coast to Awaroa. We’d have loved to do the 3 day trip which covers the same coastline but includes a few nature walks a however, we were NOT disappointed by the truncated experience. We were paired off with one other... read moreMy wife and I just returned from a 2 day trip with ATK - we started our adventure in Marahau and took a 40 minute water taxi up the coast to Awaroa. We’d have loved to do the 3 day trip which covers the same coastline but includes a few nature walks a however, we were NOT disappointed by the truncated experience. We were paired off with one other lovely family in for a reunion, and the endlessly talented guide Isaac, who had us all feeling like Whānau by the end of the trip.

The thing that really impresses me about this tour is how meticulously they have figured out to time the various side quests, swims and meal breaks so that it lines up with the tide. In terms of sights, the highlights for me would have to be:

1) Tonga island, where we saw dozens of young seal pup-mum pairings and learned about the impressive comeback this species has made over the last several years.
2) Shag Harbour, a beautiful inlet accessible only during high tide with crystal clear water and a symphony of cicada song
3) Mosquito bay (reportedly named this to reduce foot traffic - not at all buggy), a beachhead campground accessible only by kayak
4) Watering cove near Te Karetu point - where you drink delicious, crystal clear & cool spring water directly from the source

If you are reading and thinking “but I am not an experienced kayaker”, this is NOT a necessity for this trip. If you are in reasonable shape, eager to learn and put in effort you’ll get through the ~30km of ground with no problem. My wife and I were lagging a bit behind because of some motion sickness and Isaac seamlessly built in breaks and sightseeing to keep us caught up and feeling good. The food is excellent and abundant - I won’t spoil the particulars.

Finally, I’d be woefully remiss if I didn’t emphasize again just what an incredible guide Isaac was for our group. He is kind, outgoing, thoughtful and has a deep knowledge and love for NZ, Abel Tasman Park, and Maori culture. The depth of his knowledge for the flora & fauna, natural and human history of the area would be impressive for a guide 10 years his senior. He carries all of it off with such nonchalance - and always with a smile and a laugh (and a piece of ginger candy when my wife was worse for wear on the mad mile)

Go on this trip, with this group. We will be back, and we hope he’s there to show us another adventure read less

Wir haben eine Kayak und Walk Tour gemacht. Unser Tour-Guide war extrem nett und hat einen sensationellen Job gemacht. In unserer kleinen Gruppe mit 4 Kayaks haben wir ein paar schöne Stunden verbracht, während der wir durch den wunderschönen Nationalpark gefahren sind und einiges über den Park sowie die einzigartige Artenvielfalt dort erfahren haben. Nach der Kayak-Tour bekamen wir am Strand ein leckeres Mittagessen und danach ging es auf eigene... read moreWir haben eine Kayak und Walk Tour gemacht. Unser Tour-Guide war extrem nett und hat einen sensationellen Job gemacht. In unserer kleinen Gruppe mit 4 Kayaks haben wir ein paar schöne Stunden verbracht, während der wir durch den wunderschönen Nationalpark gefahren sind und einiges über den Park sowie die einzigartige Artenvielfalt dort erfahren haben. Nach der Kayak-Tour bekamen wir am Strand ein leckeres Mittagessen und danach ging es auf eigene Faust zu Fuß auf einem sehr guten Wanderweg zurück zum Ausgangspunkt. Insgesamt ein wunderschöner, gelungener Tag. read less

We did a combo kayak and sailing trip with Abel Tasman Kayaks and Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures. We LOVED the kayak portion of our trip! Our guide was super knowledgeable, and since our group moved quickly, we were able to see seals, stop on Adele Island and listen to the birds, and explore different portions of Abel Tasman via kayak. We had the best time — a great activity for... read moreWe did a combo kayak and sailing trip with Abel Tasman Kayaks and Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures. We LOVED the kayak portion of our trip! Our guide was super knowledgeable, and since our group moved quickly, we were able to see seals, stop on Adele Island and listen to the birds, and explore different portions of Abel Tasman via kayak. We had the best time — a great activity for spring in Abel Tasman! read less