New Zealand: Abel Tasman Track
The Abel Tasman Track is around 60km (37mi) and is one of the Great Walks of New Zealand. It is located within the Abel Tasman National Park, on New Zealand’s South Island, extending from Marahau in the south to Wainui in the north, with many side tracks.
View out to the islands from the Abel Tasman Track
My partner Emma’s father, who was 78yo at the time, held some historical ties to the area so it was a walk back in time – even our experienced guide, who thought he knew everything about the area learnt a new thing or two.
Day 1
We were picked up in Nelson and made our way by road around to Marahau where we began our Abel Tasman Track hike/tramp around to Anchorage.
The first night, we stayed on a delightful catamaran moored out in the bay, where a few brave souls dived into the frigid waters, enjoying a BBQ on the deck after.
The boat we stayed on for the first night (on the right)
Day 2
We hiked up and along the crescent shaped Onatahuti beach, before meandering along a boardwalk across a tidal estuary. Our second nights accommodation was in the wonderful elegant and funky Awaroa Lodge.
Looking back down to the tidal flats
Day 3
On our final day, we made our way across the huge Awaroa Inlet to Pound Gully – this is a tidal crossing so the tides dictated our timing.
The only swing bridge en route
From here, the track weaved its way through some amazing virgin New Zealand forest with huge podocarp trees reaching skyward, before bursting out on to yet another golden sand beach – Waiharakeke Bay.
Beautiful golden beaches along the way
Up and over another headland, we saw our final destination, the beach of Totaranui stretching out in the distance.
A stony creek we discovered along the way on the Abel Tasman Track
From the campground, we made our way to the pick up point for our water taxi journey back to Marahau, seeing lots of dolphins frolicking along the way.
Some of the many dolphins we saw from the water taxi
Approaching the beach, the driver of the water taxi decided to ‘gun the engines’ onto the boat trailer. A tractor then towed us back to our bus stop – all without getting our feet wet. Only in New Zealand!
The ride back into town in the boat, on the tractor!
Onwards and upwards!
Trevor
Native ferns unfurl to provide a lovely forest canopy
Insights
The Abel Tasman Track is well sheltered. With mild weather in all seasons, it is accessible and open throughout the year.
The track is graded as easy and can be walked independently or with commercial operators with guiding, camping, lodge or boat stay options.
To walk the entire track takes anywhere from 3 to 5 days.
Commercial water taxi and boat operators operate on a published schedule, providing pick-up and drop-off services. Note, Totaranui is the northernmost water taxi hop on/off stop.
There are a few inlet or estuary crossings, usually undertaken at low tide. The tide times will dictate as to when you can cross and pack some Crocs or sandals.
The highest point of the Abel Tasman Track is approximately 135m (443ft).
While most of the Abel Tasman Track was bushwalking, there were a few places to walk along the beach
See our other posts on Great Walks of New Zealand such as the Milford Track, Routeburn Track and Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
