Remote Marine Reserve Tour - Abel Tasman Kayaks

Join us on our Remote Marine Reserve tour. This is a stunning trip where we have tailored our start and finish points around the tide timetable, it means on any given departure we offer the best part of the park to explore the marine reserve to the fullest. The park’s rocky coastline is a haven for a myriad of marine life and is always a fascinating place to explore. Abel Tasman Kayaks is one of only three operators authorised to undertake marine mammal viewing from sea kayaks at Tonga.

Start Awaroa/Finish Bark Bay

Starting at Awaroa, courtesy of our water taxi transfer, we visit Shag Harbour*, a hidden inlet like nowhere else in the Abel Tasman. We then paddle south, focusing on the Tonga Island Marine Reserve and its playful inhabitants – the NZ fur seal, Kekeno. After a picnic lunch on one of the beautiful beaches, we’ll visit Tonga Arches, exploring south along the carved granite coastline through to the tranquil lagoons and golden sand of the ‘heart of the park’ to Bark Bay.

Start Onetahuti/Finish Anchorage

Paddle from Onetahuti out to Tonga Island where you’ll have your first encounters with New Zealand fur Seals, Kekeno. Paddle south with the breeze, exploring sculptured granite headlands, tranquil lagoons and everything that’s special about the heart of the Abel Tasman. Check out the beach you stop for lunch at! Finish at Anchorage and return to Marahau by water taxi.

Paddling is our business, with all activities supported by our purpose-built kayak base, free hot showers, free wifi, free equipment storage & client transporters. We also provide high-quality soft gear – fitted for each client by our guides and high-quality hard gear – customised for comfort for each client.

On this trip covering the Tonga Island Marine Reserve coastline, you have a professional guide with you for around 8 hours sharing their knowledge and passion of the Abel Tasman. We also cater a snack and lunch designed around your health and energy.

Every trip is unique like each of our clients.

*Start & finish tide dependent

Price

$250pp

Duration

1 Day

Check-in: 8.15 am
Open: Departs Sat & Tues Nov – Feb, daily Jan, Sat only in Mar. On request outside of these times
Age: Minimum 12 years, under the age of 18 you need to be accompanied by an adult on a 1 to 1 ratio
Food: Includes lunch
Paddling: Approximately 4 hrs interspersed with breaks. No prior experience required
Abel Tasman Great Walk: No
Water Taxi: Two water taxi cruises
Bus: $70 Nelson return, $30 Motueka return operating 1 Nov – 31 Mar. On request outside of these times

Full Park Map

Departure Times

Please note the Department of Conservation apply differential pricing between 1st October and 30th April. If you are a New Zealand resident choose the New Zealand Resident price, if you are an International Visitor choose International Visitor price.

Itinerary

8.15am

Check in and meet your guide.

8.30am

Water Taxi.

Awaroa - Bark Bay

9.45am

Arrive Awaroa.

10.00am

Kayak from Awaroa to Bark Bay. Total kayak time approx 4 hrs with breaks.
Awaroa - Bark Bay

1.15pm

Enjoy lunch in the Onetahuti area.

3.30pm

Arrive Bark Bay.

3.45pm

Water Taxi to Marahau.

Onetahuti - Anchorage

9.30am

Arrive Onetahuti.

9.45am

Kayak from Awaroa to Bark Bay. Total kayak time approx 4 hrs with breaks.
12.30pm

Enjoy lunch in the Bark Bay area.

3.45pm

Arrive Anchorage.

4.00pm

Water Taxi to Marahau.

4.30pm

Arrive back in Marahau.

*Please note this is an estimate of timings and based on our summer 8.15am check-in. There may be times when this trip will be reversed.

What to bring

Please bring personal water bottle, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, towel, swimsuit, warm top (wool or fleece), wind jacket, a change of clothes, cameras and any medication.

We Provide

A double kayak, buoyancy vest, paddle, spray skirt, paddle jacket, dry bags for cameras and of course an awesome Abel Tasman Kayaks guide.

FAQS

What is the minimum age for guided kayaking?

Guided customers need to be 12+. Under the age of 18 you need to be accompanied by an adult for all tours excluding Split Apple Classic. The age for Split Apple Classic Guided is 8+ and anyone under the age of 18 needs to be accompanied by an adult.
Is food included on our tour?

Lunch is included on all our guided tours. It is one of the great reasons to go on a trip with Abel Tasman Kayaks. Summer lunches are a freshly baked roll filled with local produce, home made energy balls, fruit, fresh plunger coffee and local juice. In winter we offer hot seasonal soup, home made bread rolls, fresh plunger coffee and local juice. Vegetarian and dietary requirements can be catered for, please ask at time of booking. Two, Three & Five Day Classic’s are fully catered. Two Day & Three Day Tiki Tour trips require some catering by you. Check out the trip description to see what meals are required.
More FAQ’s

A full list of our FAQ’s can be found here and our Covid-19 ones here

What our customers say

Our guide was great, super knowledgeable and brought lots of positive energy.
The views were amazing, we saw lots of wildlife and with the high tide we paddled through 3 beautiful lagoons.
The lunch was also delicious!

Saraandaaron

Absolutely loved it❤️ I had never ever done Kayaking and got into it as my birthday gift from Sachin, my husband.
Amazing, spectacular and must do !! Excellent well organised and fantastic location with great guides like Whitey and Georgia who were patient and skilled. Loved all the local stories Whitey shared with us….

Would rate this is the best adventure to date I have done❤️❤️

Smita and Sachi... S

Full day of kayaking. Numerous Fur seals and birds seen. Beautiful scenery. Louisa was a great guide with lots of information about history, animals, birds, flora, fauna, tides, marine life etc.

96carolyna

We had a brilliant time on our Abel Tasman Kayaks trip. We had Darryl looking after our group (my partner and me, a family and a single). He was very competent, entertaining and also really knowledgeable about the birdlife, bush, sealife and history of the area. He also adapted the day based on the conditions to ensure we had the best possible time. The kayaks were in good nick... read more read less

laura_25252

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 more read less

Superpear

We kayak along the splendid Coast of Abel Tasman National park for over 2 hours then we stopped for lunch at the magnificent onetahuti beach. Daryl was our tour guide; he was really nice cool fun and let us stopped and take as many pictures as we wanted and explained us very well the history of the Abel national park .

Bilalifestyle