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: 1 Nov – 31 Mar Fri only. On request outside of these dates
- 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
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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: 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
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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
We did the 2 night 3 day ‘remote coast overnighter’ option, with the first day a guided kayak through the marine reserve, followed by two nights walking out of the park, camping at the end of the kayaking day at Bark Bay and the second night at Anchorage. Both campsites were stunning beaches as all of them are. Bark Bay was camping on the sand back from the beach,... read moreWe did the 2 night 3 day ‘remote coast overnighter’ option, with the first day a guided kayak through the marine reserve, followed by two nights walking out of the park, camping at the end of the kayaking day at Bark Bay and the second night at Anchorage. Both campsites were stunning beaches as all of them are. Bark Bay was camping on the sand back from the beach, it had fascinating kaka (cheeky native parrots recently released into the wild there). There is a cold (public) beach shower at both locations which was an unexpected bonus to freshen up after a dip in the sea. Anchorage was a grassed canpsite next to another stunning golden beach with interesting caves at the end, lovely for a quiet evening explore when the beach was almost empty despite being peak season. We were blessed with perfect weather and the trip was very well organised with high safety and environmental standards. Non kiwis might need to be aware the sea is not tropical island warm in early Jan, but is fine if you’re used to cooler sea swimming (and if not, take a deep breath and do it.)
Darren has decades of experience guiding the region and spoke about lots of different topics from geology, flora and fauna, and some of the environmental issues and politics of the region. We both felt safe in his hands and enjoyed the trip so much. Saw dolphins, seals and sea lions, a couple of bobbing penguins, and stunning birdlife. By far the best trip we have done despite now having done quite a few guided adventures in our home NZ and overseas. Whether alone or with a friend or group, I fully recommended Abel Tasman Kayaks for a taste of kiwi adventure in one of the most stunning relatively unspoilt environments on this planet. read less
Greer7
Luisa was a fantastic guide! She was not only informative with the history & sites, she was fun to be with.
Also turned our kayaking adventure into a sailing one!
dstewartkmg365
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 moreWe 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 a great explanation of what it meant to start us off on our kayak. Seeing the National park from the sea gave me another viewpoint and enjoyed being on the ocean. Would definitely recommend this experience to anyone. It will leave you breathless and thankful. read less
Tim S
We had a fantastic day , superbly organised from start to finish. Our guide was excellent , felt really safe but was also an adventure and really good fun. Opportunity to see wildlife up close, time to swim, explore remote little bays.
A fantastic day.
KarenSharpe
Awesome trip!!! Our guide was very funny, friendly and knowledgeable. We spended 2 days in Abel Tasman and were overhelmed by the beautiful nature. I can only recommend this experience.
christian_onroad
Superb walk and kayak through the beautiful Abel Tasman! Louisa was a fantastic guide and made sure that everyone was having a great time. Thank you for the yummy recommendation for burgers after! We’ll be dreaming about those brownies for years to come!! thank you all for a fantastic trip!
RachelS4504