Spend three days walking independently one of New Zealand’s premier walks and let us take care of the rest.

Explore the Abel Tasman coastal track walking at your own pace. Relax and recharge over three glorious days exploring the many golden beaches and lush coastal native bush. Take your time to explore side tracks, relax and swim at beaches, the days are yours to savour and independently explore this great walk. In the evening relax and be taken care of by your knowledgeable guide.

This trip offers the best of both worlds, independent walking with the added luxury of being hosted by a guide in the evening and mornings. Your guide will take care of logistics and meals so you can concentrate on enjoying walking one of New Zealand’s great walks. Your guide will arrange the following:

  • Provide a map and outline track highlights for each day
  • Provide you with packed lunch and snacks
  • Transfer bags/items you don’t want to carry to your evening campsite
  • Set up and pack down your campsite and relocate to the next campsite
  • Host and prepare pre dinner drinks and nibbles, evening meals and breakfasts

The Abel Tasman is part of New Zealand’s great walk network and this premier track is designed for all levels of fitness. An outline of the journey is below. DoC’s full track brochure can be downloaded here. Summers call for lasting memories, and our Walking Classics do just that.

On this trip walking the coastline from Totaranui or Awaroa and surrounds to Marahau you have a professional guide with you in the morning and evenings sharing their knowledge and passion of the Abel Tasman. All meals are catered and designed around your health and energy.  Accommodation for this trip is at stunning beachside campsites and all camping gear is included.

Every trip is unique like each of our clients.

We have set a summer schedule but are flexible outside our Fri departures, please contact us directly for alternate dates.

Price

$900pp

Duration

3 Days

  • Check-in: 8.15 am
  • Age: Minimum 6 years, under the age of 18 you need to be accompanied by an adult on a 1 to 1 ratio
  • Open: 2024 | Nov – Mar Fri only | 2025 | Nov – Sat, Dec & Mar – Tues & Sat, Jan & Feb – Tues, Thurs & Sat. On request outside of these days
  • Food: Fully catered
  • Abel Tasman Great Walk: Approximately 4 – 6 hours depending on walk option
  • Water Taxi: One water taxi cruise
  • Bus: $70 Nelson return, $30 Motueka return operating 1 Oct – 30 Apr. On request outside of these times

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.

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

 

Itinerary

  • Day One

    8.15 am
    Check in and meet your guide.
    8.30 am
    Water Taxi to Awaroa or Totaranui.
    9.45 am
    Arrive Awaroa or Totaranui.
    10.00 am
    Start walking. Totaranui to Awaroa 2 hr 20 min, 7.1 km (tidal)
    Awaroa to Onetahuti, 1 hr 30 min, (4-5 km)

    Highlights: Skinner point lookout, Goat Bay, Awaroa Lagoon, Tonga Saddle, boardwalk prior to Onetahuti beach.

    Arrive Onetahuti campsite.

    7.00 pm
    Dinner and dessert.
    Day Two
    Breakfast.
    Pack any additional gear not required for the day.
    Walk from Onetahuti area to Anchorage.
    Onetahuti Bay to Bark Bay Hut (high tide track), 2 hr, 6.4 km
    Onetahuti Bay to Bark Bay (low tide crossing, Bark Bay estuary), 1 hr 45 min, 4.6 km
  • Day Two

    Bark Bay to Anchorage (high tide track), 4 hr, 11.5 km
    Bark Bay to Anchorage (Low tide Torrent Bay estuary), 3 hr, 8.4 km

    Highlights: Tonga Quarry, Bark Bay Estuary, Falls river & 47-metre long suspension bridge, Torrent Bay lookout, Torrent Bay Lagoon.

    Side trips: Cascade Creek, Cleopatras pool.
    Arrive Anchorage campsite.

    Arrive Anchorage campsite.
    7.00 pm
    Dinner and dessert.

    Day Three

    8.00 am
    Breakfast.

    9.00 am
    Pack any additional gear not required for the day.
    9.30 am
    Walk back to Marahau.
    4 hrs, 12.4 km

    Highlights: Lookout at top of Anchorage, Yellow Point, views of Adele Island, Marahau wetlands.
    3.30 pm
    Arrive Marahau and unpack gear. Enjoy showers and refreshments at the Abel Tasman Kayaks base.
  • Sample Menu

    Day One

    Lunch: Abel Tasman Kayaks freshly baked roll filled with local produce.

    Dinner: Mediterranean Pasta.



    Day Two

    Breakfast: Muesli and fruit and/or toasted bagels.

    Lunch: Abel Tasman Kayaks pita pockets.

    Dinner: Chickpea Curry.



    Day Three

    Breakfast: Muesli and fruit and/or French toast.

    Lunch: Abel Tasman Kayaks platter.

*Please note: These are an estimate of timings.

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, 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

We provide 2 person tents, thermarest inflatable mattresses, sleeping bags if required, plates, cutlery, cups, gas cookers, filtered water, all meals, accommodation in beachside campsites and of course an awesome Abel Tasman Kayaks guide for your evening and mornings.

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.

  • Do I need hiking boots?

    For walking the track, firm footwear is required, but boots are not essential, walking sandals or sports shoes are fine.

  • More FAQ’s

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

What our customers say

We did this day in early October and had a fabulous time. The whole process was smooth and hassle free, the gear was good and the packed lunch (with coffee!) was delicious.Our guide (Awatea) did a great job of briefing us, getting us going out on the water, and sharing information about the area. The seals were an unexpected bonus.We were then shuttled to the start of our walk on... read more


NParley

Wel vroeg verzamelen. Maar dat maakt de dag alleen maar mooier. Na een goede uitleg over de veiligheidsregels, kon er niets fout gaan. Het kajakken duurde 3 uur maar was meer dan de moeite waard en ging op een gemakkelijk tempo. Veel dieren gezien waaronder kleine zeehonden en bijzondere vogels. Na aankomst op het strand als eindpunt, kregen we een super lunch aangeboden. Hierna volgde een redelijke wandeling langs de... read more


Hans vd Nieuwendijk

I did the 3 day tiki tour as a solo female traveller and found it an amazing experience. Everything was well organised and I had great communication from Abel Tasman Kayaks in relation to my questions prior to and post booking. Each staff member I dealt with was great from those who were emailing me back, those at their base, those who did the water taxi driving and those who... read more


impulsivekiwi

We chose to hike part of the Able Tasman Track, and went with Able Tasman Kayaks who were dropping off a bunch of kayakers. We continued on board this fantastic fast boat and had an awesome tour of the whole area, then were dropped off at the beautiful Observation Beach so we could walk back out. It was an amazing day and the staff at Able Tasman Kayaks were... read more


693LindaJ693

Such an incredible walk and we really enjoyed our two days with the kayaks! Day 1: kayaked from Marahau to Te Pukatea; Day 2: kayaked Te Pukatea to Onetahuiti then walked to Waiharakeke - big day but breaking it up made it a lot more manageable. Third day: walked Waiharakeke to Anapai Bay. 4th day: Anapai Bay, loop around to Separation point and back to Totaranui. All pretty average fitness... read more


Amelia R

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 more


Mi-Nadine

#ABELTASMANKAYAKS

There are not many places in the world where you start your trip sitting in a boat traveling down the road. ❤️ launching from Marahau.
Where to next? ❤️ the options in the Abel Tasman.
Paddling in sync 🚣‍♂️ the perfect way to explore the Abel Tasman.
Happy Leap Day! Perhaps these kayakers are catching a glimpse of dolphins leaping on this special day? 🐬🛶
Enjoying lunch and a coffee in the Abel Tasman.
Islands stealing the foreground, and there are three waiting to be explored in the Abel Tasman. 🏝️🗺️
Blue skies and granite coastline ❤️ the Abel Tasman.
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