Price

$750pp

Duration

2 Days

From canyon jumps and abseils to peaceful paddling and starlit camping.

This two-day journey offers a more immersive way to experience the Abel Tasman. 

Your adventure begins with a water taxi ride from Marahau through the stunning Astrolabe Roadstead to Anchorage Bay. A 1.5-hour walk takes you deeper into Abel Tasman National Park, where you’ll enjoy lunch before gearing up for action.

Slip into your wetsuit, secure your harness, and pop on your helmet. Following a safety briefing, venture into the remote canyon for an unforgettable 3.5-hour adventure—jumping, sliding, abseiling, scrambling, floating, and ziplining through pristine wilderness, with a grand finale slide into the legendary Cleopatra’s Pool.

A scenic 30-minute stroll brings you back to Anchorage for your night’s glamping accommodation. Unwind with refreshments, tasty nibbles, and a gourmet meal surrounded by natural perfection before drifting off to sleep in comfort, serenaded by the sounds of nature.

Wake to a complimentary breakfast before your morning of choice—relax on the beach, walk the spectacular Pitt Head Loop, or swim in crystal-clear waters. Then set off on a 1.5-2 hour coastal track walk to Observation Beach, meeting your kayak guide at 12:30pm for lunch.

After a quick briefing, begin your afternoon paddling adventure back to Marahau. Glide past stunning Adele Island where fur seals bask on sun-warmed rocks, and explore the golden beaches of the Astrolabe Roadstead with its twelve pristine bays—the perfect finale to your Abel Tasman wilderness journey.

🎥 Preview of the trip.

 

This 2 day guided Abel Tasman trip includes accommodation and is fully catered: lunch, snacks and drinks, gourmet dinner and breakfast. Free photos and videos of your canyoning trip and kayak trip.

All of our trips are supported from our purpose-built kayak base, where you’ll have access to complimentary hot showers, Wi-Fi, secure gear storage and carparking, and client transport services. We provide top-quality soft gear, expertly fitted by our guides, along with top-quality kayaks and equipment tailored for your comfort and safety—so you can focus on enjoying the experience. The Canyon experience is run by Abel Tasman Canyons. Please read their risk disclosure before booking.

Every trip is unique like each of our clients.

  • Check-in: 8.00 am
  • Open: 1 Oct – 30 Apr
  • Age: Minimum age is 12 years old. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult on a 1:1 ratio
  • Food: Fully catered
  • Paddling: Approximately 2-3 hours hours interspersed with breaks. No prior experience required
  • Abel Tasman Great Walk: Approximately 1.5 hours each way
  • Water Taxi: One water taxi cruise
  • Bus: $80 Nelson return, $40 Motueka return operating 1 Oct – 30 Apr. On request outside of these times

Departure Times

Your trip includes an Environmental Access Fee which goes directly towards preserving the Abel Tasman National Park.

Risk Disclosure: For an understanding of the potential risks please click here and read before you book.

Itinerary

  • Day One

    8.15am
    Check in and meet your guide.
    9.00am
    Water Taxi to Anchorage.
    9.30am
    Arrive Anchorage.
    9.40am
    Canyon trip.
    4.30pm
    Arrive Anchorage and stay at Glamping.
    5.00pm
    Snacks and dinner.
  • Day Two

    8.00am
    Breakfast.

    9.00am
    Pack up and explore the Anchorage area.
    10.30am
    Walk 1.5 hrs to Observation Beach.
    12.00pm
    Arrive at Observation Beach, meet your guide and enjoy lunch.
    12.30pm
    Kayak briefing.
    1.00pm
    Kayak from Observation Beach to Marahau. Kayak approx 2 hours with breaks.
    4.00pm
    Arrive back in Marahau.

*Please note: These are an estimate of timings.

What to bring

Personal water bottle, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, towel, swimwear, warm top (wool or fleece), wind jacket, a change of clothes, camera and any medication. Evening: Long pants, t-shirt, warm top (wool or fleece), trainers and socks, rain proof jacket. Personal: Toiletries, sleeping bag (we can provide this), torch.

We provide

Wetsuit for canyon trip,a double sea kayak, buoyancy vest, paddle, spray skirt, paddle jacket, dry bags for cameras, 2 person tents, thermarest inflatable mattresses, sleeping bags if required, plates, cutlery, cups, gas cookers, filtered water, all meals, accommodation in beachside campsite.

FAQS

  • Environment Access Fee

    Your trip includes an Environmental Access Fee which goes directly towards preserving the Abel Tasman National Park.

    A portion of your ticket price goes directly towards preserving the unique environment you will enjoy on your trip in the Abel Tasman. This includes the compulsory concession fees paid to the Department of Conversation as well as voluntary contributions to local organisations and projects to improve the environment, ecology and access to the National Park.  Fees are adjusted according to your trip, you can see your contribution when you purchase a ticket.

    Find out more on how we are looking after this special place including our commitment to the Mārahau Pledge.

  • 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 in all our guided tours, except for the Split Apple Classic, making it one of the many reasons to join Abel Tasman Kayaks. Summer lunches are a freshly baked roll filled with local produce, a sweet snack and fruit. We also provide fresh plunger coffee, tea and local juice; however, drinks are not included on the Earth Sea Sky trip due to timing. 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 & Source to Sea 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.

What our customers say

These reviews are gathered through our independent client survey, designed by Get Smart using their Survey Science approach to track Customer Experience. Reviews with the Get Smart icon are gathered through that feedback tool.

www.getsmartglobal.com/get-smart-verification


Get Smart

our guides zoe and carol were patient and kind- we had two children with us which meant we were slower and a bit more chaotic but the ladies were calm and nice to us.


Krissy

We had a wonderful day on the kayaks. Ed was a fantastic host who provided us with a lot of interesting information about the national park We would definitely recommend this tour


Pascal

Incredible


Henry Tomsett

Prachtige wandeling en fijn om met een kleine groep te kayakken. Abel Tasman is écht supermooi!


Judith

The 3 day freedom kayak was a wonderful way to experience the beauty of Abel Tasman park. We also rented a tent which was great. They make everything easy and the experience was great value.


Kyle Eckart

#ABELTASMANKAYAKS

Gathering for a briefing. Checking the plan, getting set, and getting ready for the  excitement of what’s ahead.
Most days out here are sunny and golden ☀️ — but every now and then, the rain rolls through. And honestly? It still makes for an awesome trip. 🌧️🌊

The colours pop, and the adventure vibes crank up a notch. Rain or shine, it’s always a good day to explore the Abel Tasman.
Golden light, calm seas, and a coastline waking up in the most magical way - and a fresh brew makes it even better. ☕💛🌅✨
Happy New Year! ✨ If you’re looking to change it up in 2026, start with an adventure that gets you outside, moving, and inspired.

Swap screens for coastline, deadlines for tide lines, and step into a year where you choose adventure, and the unforgettable. 🌊🌿

Let’s make this the year you explore more.
Explore the Abel Tasman in all its duality — even from the water. 🌿🌊
Where lush bush drops right down to sea level, and every paddle stroke takes you between two worlds.

📍Abel Tasman National Park

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#abeltasmankayaks #abeltasman #abeltasmannationalpark #nelsontasmannz #NZMustDo #GreatWalksNZ #airnzshareme #natgeotravel #kayakingnz #seakayaking #seakayakingnz #explorenz #southislandnz
Seasons Greetings from the team at Abel Tasman Kayaks.
Our Sea Bear kayaks are built for adventure — stable, comfortable, and designed to glide smoothly along the Abel Tasman coastline. 🌊🐻

Perfect for multi-day journeys, they carry everything you need while keeping you steady through changing conditions. Whether you’re crossing open bays or exploring hidden coves, these kayaks are all about confidence and capability on the water.
Kayaking out the inlet with the push of the tide — nature giving you a little tow on the way to your next adventure. 🌊🚣‍♂️✨
Getting ready for another day in paradise ✨

📍Abel Tasman Kayaks
Golden sands, calm seas, and a kayak ready for adventure.

📍Abel Tasman Kayaks, Abel Tasman National Park.
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