From Marahau to Totaranui and return – it’s an adventure!

Spend three days in the stunning Abel Tasman. The first two days see you kayaking from Marahau through to Onetahuti.

We collect your kayak for you on day two and leave you to walk North through to the last water taxi pick up point, Totaranui. The bush through here is lush and the coastal views amazing! We collect you at the end of day three when the water taxi retraces your route back to Marahau.

Recommended campsites: Night 1 Observation Beach or Te Pukatea Bay or Anchorage. Night 2 Onetahuti. Camp passes included in price which we book on your behalf.

  • Start paddling at Marahau and finish at Onetahuti.
  • Don’t paddle the same coastline twice!
  • 2 days of kayaking allows plenty of time to explore all the way up the Marine Reserve.
  • Walk to the Northern taxi pick up point Totaranui.
  • Retrace your steps on the water taxi on your journey back to Marahau.

Hut accommodation is available for an additional cost, please contact us to arrange and camping gear can be hired at time of booking if required.

Minimum group size 2 (no solo hires).

Price

$288 NZ pp

Duration

3 Days

  • Check-in: 8.15 am
  • Open: 1 Oct – 31 May
  • Age: Minimum 14 years, under the age of 18 you need to be accompanied by an adult on a 1 to 1 ratio
  • Includes: Kayak hire, kayak transfer, passenger transfer and camp pass (Abel Tasman Kayaks books on your behalf)
  • Food: Self catered
  • Paddling: Approximately 4 – 5 hours per day interspersed with breaks. No prior experience required
  • Abel Tasman Great Walk: Approximately 3 – 4 hours
  • Water Taxi: One water taxi cruise
  • Bus: $70 Nelson return, $30 Motueka return operating 1 Oct – 30 Apr. On request outside of these times
  • Base Map

Adele Island Bird Sanctuary

Adele Island / Motuareronui is a predator free sanctuary and home to species such as the South Island Robin/Toutouwai (pictured) and Saddleback/Tieke.

NZ Fur Seal/Kekeno

NZ fur seals Kekeno can be seen at the northern end of the island.

Seal - Abel Tasman Kayaks

Onetahuti & Surrounds

Explore the Tonga Island Marine Reserve and its surrounds you can go as far as Shag Harbour.

Astrolabe

Paddle the sheltered waters of the Astrolabe exploring 12 beautiful beaches, caves and rocky outcrops.

 

Kaka

Kaka New Zealands native parrot have been reintroduced to Bark Bay.Β  They are often heard before they are seen, listen out for their call a harsh, repeated, rhythmic ‘ka ka’.

Lagoons

Explore Frenchmans Bay, Sandfly Bay, Bark Bay (marker) lagoons on the high tide.

Bark Bay & Surrounds

Explore the forest fringed granite coastline and tidal estuaries.

No rental kayaking past this point (shag harbour)

Awaroa Estuary Crossing

Spectacular low tide estuary crossing.

Majestic rain forest

The northern end of the park offers great examples of sub tropical rain forest. There are plenty of majesticΒ  Nikau to be found on this section of track.

Onetahuti kayak pick upΒ 

Totaranui passenger pick up

Night 1

Anchorage Campsite (50 sites).

Night 2

Onetahuti Bay Campsite (20 sites)


Departure Times

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

Note the Department of Conservation applies a pricing system that varies depending on residency status.

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

Itinerary

  • Day 1

    8.15am
    Check in and start your kayak rental briefing. The briefing highlights areas of interest in the Abel Tasman National Park, weather forecasts and local conditions, hazards, safety and self rescue.
    10.00am
    On water assessment with guide.
    10.30am
    Continue on your own to explore the Abel Tasman. Spend the night at Observation Beach, Te Pukatea Bay or Anchorage.

  • Day 2

    3.15pm
    Kayak pick up at Onetahuti. Spend the night at Onetahuti or Tonga Quarry.

  • Day 3

    8.15am
    Walk from Onetahuti to Totaranui approx 4.5hrs,14.2km.
    2.15pm
    Water Taxi pick up at Totaranui.
    4.30pm
    Return to Abel Tasman Kayaks’ base.

*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.

Preparation

Camp pass: Provided at check in.

Kayaking clothes: You’re bound to get wet when kayaking bring some quick drying clothes to paddle in. Shorts, t-shirt (long sleeves are preferable), warm top (wool/fleece), hat, sunglasses and shoes. Don’t forget your swimsuit and a towel!

Campsite clothing: Warm campsite clothing is essential for the evenings. Long pants, t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, warm top (wool/fleece), trainers and socks, sleeping clothing, rainproof jacket.

Personal items: Such as medication, toiletries, camera (with plenty of film or memory space!), personal drinking bottle, first aid kit, torch, sunscreen and insect repellent.

We provide: Buoyancy vest, spray skirt, paddle jacket, paddle, safety emergency flares, waterproof map, water pump and a spare paddle.

Additional items in the winter: wetsuits, wetsuit booties.

Food & water: Be sure to bring enough food for your whole journey, food tips can be found here. We recommend purchasing this before you get to Marahau. Make sure you bring plenty of fresh water with you. Filtered water is available at our base and hut sites, untreated water is available at the campsites.

Day 1: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
Day 2: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
Day 3: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks

Cooking equipment: If you plan to cook a hot meal ensure you bring a cooker and fuel as fires are only permitted in certain parts of the park, at certain times of the year. Pots, pans, utensils, cutlery, plates and cups will also come in handy.

Camping equipment: During the evening it can become quite cool in the park so please make sure you pack a tent, camping mat and a warm sleeping bag.

FAQS

  • Can we hire/rent single kayaks?

    No. Due to the safety procedures in place, you cannot hire or rent single kayaks. The exception is if your group size is an odd number where there will be one single kayak provided along with double kayaks. E.g For a group of 3 – 1 x double kayak, and 1 x single kayak, group of 5 – 2 x double kayaks and 1 x single kayak.

  • 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.Β  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 renting a kayak?

    Rental customers need to be 14+ and anyone under the age of 18 needs to be accompanied by an adult.

  • Is food included?

    All kayak rentals & kayak & walk rentals are self catered (unless you have opted to add lunch for day 1 at time of booking) the trip description provides suggestions of meals. Be sure to bring enough food for your whole journey, food tips can be found here.Β We recommend purchasing this before you get to Marahau.Β Make sure you bring plenty of fresh water with you.Β Filtered water is available at our base and hut sites, untreated water is available at the campsites.Β Β 

     

  • If I am on my own can I rent a kayak?

    It’s possible to join a guided trip if you’re a solo traveller. We will pair you with another guest or a guide. No rentals are available to solo kayakers due to safety.

  • Do I need any previous kayaking experience to rent a kayak?

    While past kayaking experience is desirable, a reasonable level of camping and outdoor skills and water confidence is essential. Before you go out on a kayaking trip you are briefed by a qualified sea kayak guide who is very familiar with the park and will provide you with information about places to go, how far you are likely to get in the time you have and information on safety, weather and sea conditions.

  • Do you hire camping gear?

    Yes, from gas bottles to a full set of gear. It can be booked online at time of booking or over the phone a full list can be found here. These items are subject to availability.

  • More FAQ’s

    A full list of our FAQ’s can be found here.

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What our customers say

Did the 5 day kayak trip, booked very last minute and they were able to accomodate us at short notice. We then flew to NZ pretty much just for this. From then on everything was really well organised by Abel Tasman Kayaks starting with our pickup from Nelson. The awesome kayaking experience was a fascinating journey where we saw some of the best scenery and wildlife New Zealand has to... read more


weka777

It was very good and funny with Ian and molly. Ian has a lot of interesting knowledges about the flora and fauna of the island around this spot.


Caroline R

I booked the Earth, Sea, and Sky tour. If you want to explore the scenic Abel Tasman national park, Abel Tasman Kayaks is the company to do it with, plus they have various tours! The tour starts off in Torrent Bay (via water taxi) and you walk to Barker Bay (bring hiking shoes) where you'll see various bays, plants, wildlife, and other beautiful scenery. At Barker Bay, they had additional... read more


Travel Dude

Super leuke dag gehad op het water. De uitrusting is goed, alles is verzorgd! De lunch en snacks zijn healthy wat het even anders maakt dan veel andere tours. Ook de gids Nathan maakt een degelijk verschil, hij heeft ons veel verteld en geleed, is interactief met iedereen in de groep en weet zeker waar hij het over heeft. Good job Nathan ;)

De prijs is wel aan de hoge... read more


carlijndr

Our guide, Tim, was excellent, the other guides from the company were great too. We had no idea when we were looking for a company to go with! Thankfully we made a great choice. Tim was knowledgeable about every aspect. We really enjoyed it.


traceyr17

We were a large tour group so half of us walked to Apple Tree Bay while the other half kayaked there. The walk in was amazing as it just hits you how beautiful nature is and how appreciative I become that it is still relatively unspoilt. We enjoyed the cooler weather and had a picnic on the beach before we swapped to kayaking.Our guide Issac did a beautiful karakia with... read more


Tim S

#ABELTASMANKAYAKS

Many of our trips conclude at Anchorage by the end of the day. πŸŒ…πŸš£β€β™‚οΈ its also a great place to spend a night in the park.

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Many of our trips conclude at Anchorage by the end of the day. πŸŒ…πŸš£β€β™‚οΈ its also a great place to spend a night in the park.

Exploring the park on your own.

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Exploring the park on your own.

Split Apple Rock is just around the corner from our base, waiting to be explored.

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Split Apple Rock is just around the corner from our base, waiting to be explored.

This is one of our favorite photos ever! πŸ“Έβ€οΈ

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This is one of our favorite photos ever! πŸ“Έβ€οΈ

Whether you`re a seasoned kayaker or a first-timer, we make sure the paddling is easy and fun for everyone!

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Whether you're a seasoned kayaker or a first-timer, we make sure the paddling is easy and fun for everyone!

Only 6 months to the longest day! Bring on Summer!

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Only 6 months to the longest day! Bring on Summer!

One of our team members demonstrating the correct use of a dry bag. πŸ“Έ Cameras are welcome on all our trips, so you can capture every moment!

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One of our team members demonstrating the correct use of a dry bag. πŸ“Έ Cameras are welcome on all our trips, so you can capture every moment!

Awaroa is one of the many stunning beaches we launch our kayak trips from, situated right on the edge of the Tonga Island Marine Reserve. πŸš£β€β™‚οΈ

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Awaroa is one of the many stunning beaches we launch our kayak trips from, situated right on the edge of the Tonga Island Marine Reserve. πŸš£β€β™‚οΈ

It may be the smallest national park, but it`s got a lot of coastline to explore. ❀️ the Abel Tasman National Park.

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It may be the smallest national park, but it's got a lot of coastline to explore. ❀️ the Abel Tasman National Park.

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