Complete Guide to the Abel Tasman Coast Track
By Lisa & Richard: 21 June, 2024
The Abel Tasman National Park is a New Zealand must-do—for locals and travellers alike. Whether you’re walking the Abel Tasman Coast Track or sampling it as part of a wider trip to the beautiful Golden Bay and Nelson-Tasman region—at Golden Bay Air we’ve got you covered with advice on logistics and activities to include.
Abel Tasman National Park: A historical and natural treasure
The Abel Tasman isn’t just about perfect instragramable beaches. It’s a culturally significant landmark where Māori and Pakeha had their first unfortunate meeting off Taupo Point. It is also a testament to human endeavour. Each bay tells a tale of human enterprise—timber, sawmilling, shipbuilding, mining, and farming.
But what truly distinguishes this Park is its return to pristine bush and revived biodiversity. From Perrine Moncrief’s advocacy for its National Park status to Project Janszoon’s ecological restoration efforts and the public crowdfunding of Awaroa Beach, the Abel Tasman showcases collective efforts to restore a degraded environment to its former glory.
Today, it’s a magnet for tourists, hikers, and adventurers who reap the rewards of preservation endeavours of people who have gone before. Check out our blog about the history of the park.
Logistics on getting to and from the Abel Tasman
Getting to the Abel Tasman is easy, with so many options. For example, from Nelson you can get a daily Golden Bay Air shuttle to Mārahau or Kaiteriteri to start walking or boating into the park. Or self-drive in your own car or hire a rental car from Nelson. Did you know that you can even fly from Wellington on Golden Bay Air’s scheduled flights and catch a shuttle into either Wainui Bay or Mārahau from there? So easy!
Getting from the Abel Tasman is just as simple. Golden Bay Air shuttles can pick you up from Wainui Bay—the northern-most entrance of the track and return you to Mārahau and Kaiterteri to your car, or collect you from Mārahau return to Nelson. Or treat yourself by stopping in Tākaka for a scenic flight back over the National Park back to Nelson. Check out our blog for all you ever need to know about transport logistics to, from and within the park.
The Abel Tasman is more like a summer holiday than a hard-core tramp!
The Abel Tasman Coast Track is quite different to New Zealand’s other great walks as it can be experienced almost every way possible—walking, kayaking, cruising and sailing, over as many or as few days as you want. This makes it more like a summer holiday than a hard slog. You can hike it, hop on and off the boats that cruise up and down the coast, or kayak a section of it—all three! A number of day tour operators provide sailing and canyoning adventure activities too.
A range of accommodation is available—from camping, to the well set up Department of Conservation Huts, private holiday rentals and luxury lodges. You can even access the wifi hotspots through the park and charge your phone at Anchorage! Most people will spend their time at the southern end of the park which can make that end quite busy so if you want to experience crowd-free idyllic beaches make sure you include the northern part of the park beyond Tōtaranui in your Abel Tasman itinerary. For more on why the Abel Tasman is so popular, check out our essential information blog.
The Abel Tasman can be done as a daytrip from Nelson by land, sea and air!
There are many operators offering all kinds of day trips into the Abel Tasman. It can get quite confusing sorting through them all. But if you are looking for a day out in the Park that includes a bit more than most, why not take Golden Bay Air’s daytrip that covers both the Abel Tasman and Golden Bay by land, sea and air from Nelson with no retracing your steps. Imagine escaping for a day of azure waters, golden beaches and scenic flights! Golden Bay Air will shuttle you from Nelson to the Abel Tasman where you will join a relaxing cruise of the Abel Tasman coast all the way to Tōtaranui with amazing beaches, dolphins and New Zealand Fur Seals along the way. There’s time at Tōtaranui for a picnic and a wander or swim at the beach, before your scenic drive around the limestone coasts to the famous crystal clear Te Waikoropupū Springs. Then the perfect end to the day is a stunning scenic flight back to Nelson over the Abel Tasman beaches. See Golden Bay Air's Abel Tasman Fly Cruise Tours for further information.
Try a package that takes care of both transport and accommodation from Wellington
Looking for a touch of luxury relaxing within the Abel Tasman National Park without having to walk to get there? Golden Bay Air and Awaroa Lodge have teamed up to fly you to and from Wellington for a fantastic overnight trip to stay at the Awaroa Lodge, a luxurious oasis in the heart of the Abel Tasman National Park. Check out our blog about the Abel Tasman Wilderness Stay from Wellington.
The track lies in an incredible region
If you can, it is well worth taking the time to explore the wide range of side trips inside the Park and beyond to Golden Bay. You’ve got all the side trips from the coastal track itself to waterfalls and swimming holes, glow worm grottos, and seal pups playing in crystal clear lagoons.
The granite canyons of Torrent River can be explored with Abel Tasman Canyons, or take your own 3 hour return side trip on the Falls River Track to be rewarded with picture perfect waterfalls into deep pools. A friendly (hungry) eel will great you in the first pool. Awaroa Lodge has amazing accommodation and dining in the heart of the park, including a fun pizzeria serving craft beer! At Tōtaranui, find the eels in the creek and grab and ice cream from the DOC Visitor centre.
If you finish at Wainui—there is so much to see and do in Golden Bay it would be a shame to rush straight back to Nelson. Walk to the impressive Wainui Falls (also in Wainui Bay) or take a tour along Farewell Spit to the gannet colony and famous lighthouse. Te Waikoropupū Springs is a must-see—the crystal clear, blue-tinted waters have been measured as some of the clearest in the world.
Wharariki Beach is an iconic marvel with its booming surf, photogenic naturally carved archways rising from the ocean and rock pools that baby seals use as paddling pools. Swim in Golden Bay’s crystal-clear rivers, have a go at its world-class climbing and caving, or recover on any one of its 27 beaches—the choice is yours!
There are cafes dotted all around the place and the region is famed for its artists and so galleries are another must-do. For a birds-eye view of the diverse scenery in New Zealand, see it all from above on Golden Bay Air’s scenic flights. Check out our blog of Abel Tasman and beyond must dos
Tips for making your Abel Tasman Coast Track walk a breeze
If you are hiking the track, having the right gear is crucial—it can turn your trip into a beachside holiday instead of a struggle. Opt for the lightest, highest-quality backpack you can afford. Keep clothing to a minimum while ensuring you stay warm; versatile items like a down jacket can serve multiple purposes, like layering under a raincoat, sleeping in cooler conditions or packed into a stuff-sack as a pillow. Choose lightweight, waterproof rain gear and consider the weight of your tent and sleeping mat carefully if camping (better still stay in the huts!). Dry your own food or choose dried meals to lighten your pack. Use your phone with a spare USB charger for camera, GPS, map, and torch functions to save weight. You can even charge your phone in the charging station at Anchorage Hut!
If budget allows, why not avoid carrying your overnight gear altogether and book it on the sea shuttles that cruise up and down the Park. Visit our blogs on what gear to pack and tips on cutting down weight
While trekking in this stunning part of New Zealand, remember a few tips to enhance your experience: use hiking poles for added power on the hills, opt for trail runners instead of boots for a lighter load on the wide, undulating track. A foam mat for sitting keeps your bottom dry without adding bulk. Don’t forget your swimsuit and quick-dry towel for impromptu beach stops in the summer! Check out our Top 10 walking tips.
So what are you waiting for...
The Abel Tasman Coast Track is a Kiwi must-do, and the best thing about it is it is fully customisable according to how you want to experience it—whether as a sampler as part of a wider Golden Bay trip, a relaxing hike, a jam-packed daytrip or an overnight immersion.
Lisa Sheppard and Richard Molloy are Takaka-based owners of Golden Bay Air who have walked most Great Walks and dozens of back-country tracks in New Zealand including the Heaphy and Abel Tasman Coast Tracks.
