Price
$1099pp
Duration
3 Days
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 running from Jan 26. If you’re looking to book outside of these scheduled departures, we’re happy to help—get in touch with us directly to arrange an alternative date for your adventure.
Print Itinerary- 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: Departs Sat – Nov |Tues & Sat Dec – Mar. On request outside of these times
- 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
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
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Day One
8.15 amCheck in and meet your guide.8.30 amWater Taxi to Awaroa or Totaranui.
9.45 amArrive Awaroa or Totaranui.
10.00 amStart 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 pmDinner and dessert.
Day TwoBreakfast.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
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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 pmDinner and dessert.Day Three
8.00 amBreakfast.
9.00 amPack any additional gear not required for the day.
9.30 amWalk back to Marahau.
4 hrs, 12.4 km
Highlights: Lookout at top of Anchorage, Yellow Point, views of Adele Island, Marahau wetlands.3.30 pmArrive Marahau and unpack gear. Enjoy showers and refreshments at the Abel Tasman Kayaks base.
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Sample Menu
Day One
Lunch: Abel Tasman Kayaks freshly baked roll filled with local produce.
Dinner: Chickpea Curry & Steamed pudding.
Day Two
Breakfast: Cooked Breakfast and/or muesli served with yoghurt and fruit.
Lunch: Wraps.
Dinner: Nacho bean mix served with sour cream & sliced cake.
Day Three
Breakfast: Toasted English muffins and/or muesli served with yoghurt and fruit.
Lunch: Mediterranean Pasta.
*Please note: These are an estimate of timings.
What to bring
Please 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
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
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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.
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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.
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More FAQ’s
A full list of our FAQ’s can be found here.
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What our customers say
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
Sea kayaking for the first time, I opted for a short introductory half day. It was beautiful, fun and rewarding. The guides were excellent, group "sailing" was an unexpected fun activity that saved energy and lunch on the beach after was tasty, filling and relaxing. Water taxi back including being towed (while still in the boat) by a tractor.
Jo-Anne K
We booked the Park Start which is a 3 day and 2 night trip which starts by taking a water taxi up to the Northern part of the National park where you’re dropped off enabling you to kayak back to Marahau with the wind behind you! The kayaks are spacious with lots of room for tent, other camping equipment and clothes for the trip, and the compartments in the boat... read moreWe booked the Park Start which is a 3 day and 2 night trip which starts by taking a water taxi up to the Northern part of the National park where you’re dropped off enabling you to kayak back to Marahau with the wind behind you! The kayaks are spacious with lots of room for tent, other camping equipment and clothes for the trip, and the compartments in the boat are pretty much water tight. Abel Tasman Kayaks provide a dry bag and big plastic bags if you need them to keep your things dry. They also do a good safety briefing to get you started before you go including a practice paddle on the water. The company booked our campsites which made life easier and the map provided of the coastline is really useful. My only criticism would be that we had to be at the site at 8.15am for a briefing but didn’t actually get our water taxi until 11.30 so felt like we were missing out on time when we could’ve been on the water. All in all an excellent company and way to explore Abel Tasman national Park. read less
stefsabb
One day walk and 2 days kayaking. Lucky enough to have Dez as a guide - genuinely the best guide I’ve had. Funny, intuitive and so knowledgable. Really cares for his work. Learnt loads. Had a great time doing so and even saw a penguin. The glamping is with an incredible couple who love hosting - definitely buy their pizzas! And the Aquapackers is another amazing couple doing what they... read moreOne day walk and 2 days kayaking. Lucky enough to have Dez as a guide - genuinely the best guide I’ve had. Funny, intuitive and so knowledgable. Really cares for his work. Learnt loads. Had a great time doing so and even saw a penguin. The glamping is with an incredible couple who love hosting - definitely buy their pizzas! And the Aquapackers is another amazing couple doing what they love - hosting! Great (and loads of) food. read less
Tomclowes22
We went on a kayak trip and then hike. Everything was extraordinarily beautiful and service was fantastic and perfect from beginning to end. Our guide was Hayley and she was friendly, knowledgeable, easy-to-chat with, and made everyone feel safe and secure. She shared interesting facts along the way about the park (and New Zealand generally), provided flexibility around where we paddled based on group preferences, took us to a quick... read moreWe went on a kayak trip and then hike. Everything was extraordinarily beautiful and service was fantastic and perfect from beginning to end. Our guide was Hayley and she was friendly, knowledgeable, easy-to-chat with, and made everyone feel safe and secure. She shared interesting facts along the way about the park (and New Zealand generally), provided flexibility around where we paddled based on group preferences, took us to a quick beach stop before our lunch beach stop, recommended a great burger place for after, and made us all laugh. ❤️ read less
O1600HSamyh
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
TimRowesays