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Map of Walk New Zealand's Abel Tasman National Park including New Zealand

Let the tide be your guide as you trek secluded coves on Tasman Bay

Follow the iconic Coast Track of Abel Tasman National Park on this 5-day walking tour through New Zealand’s unspoiled wilderness. Explore pristine bays with golden-sand beaches and native forests of kanuka and manuka trees as you head from the rural village of Marahau to the remote paradise of Awaroa. This South Island coastal hiking adventure includes a bit of luxe and a lot of local expertise, with nights in cosy cabins, daily transportation to the trek via water taxis, and an in-the-know leader to help you navigate the trails and the tides.

Start
Nelson, New Zealand
Finish
Nelson, New Zealand
Destination
New Zealand
Style
Original
Theme
Walking & Trekking
Code
PHXT
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Spend three full days exploring the picturesque Abel Tasman National Park, discovering golden-sand beaches and secluded bays only accessible by boat or on foot.

  • Experience Abel Tasman’s most classic hike without lugging all your stuff, thanks to daily water taxis from your accommodations to the trail start points.

  • Kick up your weary walking feet at the end of each day with stays in cosy cabins and lodges right inside the park grounds.

  • Cross the challenging Awaroa Inlet and navigate the fast-changing tide under the expert guidance of a local leader.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip involves plenty of walking over varied terrain and is best suited to travellers with a good level of mobility. Good footwear, clothing for all types of weather, plus perhaps walking poles are recommended. Details on physical activities can be found in the itinerary.

Travellers hiking along beach on Abel Tasman Coastal track, South Island, NZ
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PHXH - Pax Walking Through Abel Tasman National Park
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Hiker admiring the view on the Abel Tasman Coastal track, South Island, NZ

Itinerary
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Welcome to Nelson! Tucked on the shores of Tasman Bay, Nelson is your jumping off point for your walking adventure through Abel Tasman National Park. Meet your group and local leader at your 6pm Welcome Meeting. If you plan to arrive in town earlier, you can explore a bit of Nelson on a scenic town walk and a stop at a local winery or brewery. The evening, after the welcome meeting, is free to see more of the town. Perhaps join your fellow travellers for dinner, or rest up for the hiking days to come.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (with private facilities) (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Today you’ll get your first taste of the most classic hike of Abel Tasman, the Coast Track. Grab breakfast at your accommodation or head out to a nearby cafe before jumping in your private transfer (approximately 1 hour) to the rural village of Marahau which is the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park. Hop aboard a water taxi that will sail you past the unusual Split Apple Rock – a unique geological formation that, according to Maori legend, was split in half by two feuding gods. See if you can spot the colony of fur seals as you cruise past Adele Island. You’ll disembark at Anchorage, where you’ll begin your walk along the Coast Track, with picturesque rest stops along the way, such as at the golden sand beaches of Apple Tree Bay where you'll tuck into your picnic lunch. Your walk will lead you back to Marahau, where you’re free to relax for the evening. Maybe grab your group for a dinner of woodfired pizzas at the cosy Park Cafe before retiring to your cabin for the evening.
Accommodation
  • Cabin (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Abel Tasman National Park - Coast Track Hike
  • Abel Tasman National Park - Aquataxi Marahau to Anchorage
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s hiking distance is 13 kilometres and will take approximately 4 hours.

This morning climb aboard another water taxi for a cruise over to the beautiful Bark Bay, a strip of tree-lined land with a beach on one side and a tidal estuary on the other. Today’s hike will take you through groves of manuka trees, past the historic Tonga Quarry and out onto the shores of Onetahuti Bay, one of the longest beaches in the Abel Tasman, a great place for lunch. Finish your hike at the paradise-like Awaroa Bay – a place so beloved by locals that New Zealanders purchased it in a 2016 crowd-funding campaign to prevent it from falling into private ownership. In the evening, relax by the indoor fireplace or outside in the garden bar at your secluded, no-road-access lodging.
Accommodation
  • Lodge (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Abel Tasman National Park - Aquataxi Marahau to Bark Bay
  • Abel Tasman National Park - Bark Bay to Awaroa Bay Hike
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s hiking distance is 13.5 kilometres and will take approximately 4.5 hours. Please note that your main luggage will be transferred to Awaroa Lodge for you.

Take the water taxi from Awaroa to Totaranui for a scenic hike along sandy beaches and rocky headlands. Here, nature is strictly in charge. The Northern Loop from Totaranui takes you up Gibbs Hill Track, to Whariwharangi Hut, then Separation Point, and Anapai Bay. There are sharp contrasts in vegetation between dry ridgecrest kānuka associations and the lush valley forest seen on the gentle descent into Anapai Bay. Anapai is one of the National Park’s loveliest bays, its beach divided into two by rocky outcrops with considerable contrast of shapes between the harder rock at the northern end of the beach, and the softer, more deeply weathered granite to the south. Explore picturesque beaches and native forest as you work your way back to Totaranui from where you'll be catching the Watertaxi back to Marahau.
Accommodation
  • Cabin (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Abel Tasman National Park - Aquataxi Awaroa Lodge to Totaranui
  • Abel Tasman National Park - Totaranui Hike
  • Abel Tasman National Park - Aquataxi Totaranui to Marahau
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s hiking distance is 4-5 kilometres and will take approximately 2 hours.

Enjoy some free time this morning in Marahau, before hopping back on your private transfer back to Nelson. Your Abel Tasman tour finishes on arrival in Nelson and you are free to depart at your leisure or spend more time exploring the surrounding area.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Arrival back into Nelson on the last day is expected at around 2:30pm. Please take this into consideration when booking onward travel.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

4 breakfasts, 3 lunches

Transport

Private vehicle, Water taxi

Accommodation

Hostel (1 night), Cabin (with shared facilities) (2 nights), Lodge (1 night)

Included activities

  • Abel Tasman National Park - Coast Track Hike
  • Abel Tasman National Park - Aquataxi Marahau to Anchorage
  • Abel Tasman National Park - Aquataxi Marahau to Bark Bay
  • Abel Tasman National Park - Bark Bay to Awaroa Bay Hike
  • Abel Tasman National Park - Aquataxi Awaroa Lodge to Totaranui
  • Abel Tasman National Park - Totaranui Hike
  • Abel Tasman National Park - Aquataxi Totaranui to Marahau

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Walk New Zealand's Abel Tasman National Park trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

START & END TIME
Your trip starts with a group meeting at 6pm on day 1 in Nelson and finishes upon arrival back into Nelson on the last day at around 2:30pm.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A single supplement is NOT available for this trip.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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