Keen and Abel
Reach for the sun in spectacular surroundings
At the sheltered top of the South Island, explore Abel Tasman’s sunny seascape by boat, kayak, or on New Zealand’s most accessible Great Walk.
Why go
When a nation bands together to buy a beach, it’s proof the spectacular coastal region surrounding it is a special part of the country.
A privately-owned 800-metre slice of Awaroa Bay bordering Abel Tasman National Park was offered for sale in 2015, and a crowdfunding movement of more than 30,000 Kiwis raised almost $2.3 million to ensure the beach wasn’t secured by offshore buyers.
After a $350,000 top-up from the government, the beach was officially incorporated into the national park in 2016, ensuring its protection for future generations.
Awaroa Bay is just one of the coves making up the Abel Tasman Coast Track, the most popular of New Zealand’s Great Walks, and a versatile route, which can be explored by walking or in a kayak.
Kayaking on a day experience from the oceanfront settlement of Ma¯ra¯hau is also popular, as are cruises exploring the coastal nooks and crannies of New Zealand’s most compact national park.
Factor in horse riding on the beach, exciting canyoning amid the waterfalls and pools of the park’s rugged hinterland, and enthralling scenic flights taking in our spectacular coastal scenery, and it’s easy to understand why more than 30,000 sand-between-their-toes investors felt so strongly about doing the right thing.
When to go
The Tasman region is one of New Zealand’s sunniest areas. Even in winter, despite cooler temperatures, days often offer clear skies and sunshine.
The Abel Tasman Coast Track is very popular. If possible, visiting outside of busy spring and summer school holiday periods is recommended.
What to do
Compared to sprawling and rugged Fiordland National Park at the opposite end of the South Island, Abel Tasman National Park is small and easily negotiated, but there’s no trade-off in spectacular coastal scenery or active adventure thrills.
Topping the list of exciting ways to experience the park is the coast track, one of the Department of Conservation’s Great Walks, a 60km journey through forest and along golden sand beaches along the northwest tip of Tasman Bay.
Visitors usually take three to five days to complete it, but with a flexible armada of water taxis from operators including Wilsons, Ma¯ra¯hau Water Taxis and Abel Tasman AquaTaxi, it’s also possible to break the track up into day adventures, or just focus on specific sections.
Wilsons can also arrange three- and five-day explorations of the track, including stays at its two waterfront lodges, while Abel Tasman Guides’ freedom walks and guided coast track itineraries can also include glamping.
The sheltered coves and forested beaches of the park are popular for sea-kayaking and, again, the emphasis is on flexibility for visitors.
Freedom Rentals are available from the beachfront hamlet of Ma¯ra¯hau, and it’s possible to meander along the coast staying at DOC’s Great Walks huts and campsites, or do shorter day kayak excursions to the park’s scenic highlights.
Guided kayak tours incorporating coastal walks and return trips by water taxi are also an option to maximise time visiting the park.
Local operators including Kahu Kayaks, Abel Tasman Kayaks, Ma¯ra¯hau Sea Kayaks and R&R Kayaks can all advise on versatile ways to experience one of the world’s best sea-kayaking destinations.
For a different spin on experiencing the park from the water, head out with Waka Abel Tasman on a shared paddle on single- and double-hulled Polynesian-style outrigger canoes.
The two-hour paddle to Split Apple Rock (Toka Ngawha¯) is an excellent option for families.
It’s also a popular destination for kayaking.
Off the water, other highlights of the park include equine adventures with Abel Tasman Horse Trekking, including two-hour beach treks for riders of all experience, and combining jumping, abseiling, swimming, and sliding on a canyoning adventure with Abel Tasman Canyons.
Leaving from nearby Motueka, sign up for a scenic flight with Nelson Tasman Air to see the sky-high spectacle of the park from above.
Accommodation
Many visitors base themselves in Kaiteriteri, which has bed and breakfasts, motels and a backpacker lodge, or quieter Ma¯ra¯hau, which is nearer to the entrance to the national park.
Options spread along the coast and in the nearby hills include the excellent Ka¯nuka Ridge Abel Tasman Backpackers and Lodge, and the stylish self-contained units at Abel Tasman Lodge.
Accommodation along the Abel Tasman Coast Track includes four DOC Great Walk huts and 18 campsites. The track is very popular, and booking ahead for huts and campsites at greatwalks.co.nz is essential.
Location
Tucked into the northwest corner of Tasman Bay, Abel Tasman National Park is most easily reached on direct Air New Zealand flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to Nelson.
From Nelson, it’s a 45-minute drive to Motueka, and a further 20 minutes to the oceanfront village of Kaiteriteri.
From Nelson to Motueka, stop at the historic
Ma¯pua Wharf for coffee at Rabbit Island Coffee Co or fish and chips at The Smokehouse.
There’s also good design and arts and crafts shopping, and Kiwi Journeys hires bikes to explore nearby Rabbit Island (Moturoa) – reached by a passenger ferry – and the nearby Great Taste Trail.
Gateway town
Motueka, which translates to Island of the Weka in te reo Ma¯ori, is an agricultural centre servicing the local hop-growing and viticulture industries.
New World and Countdown have supermarkets in town, while Coppins Great Outdoor Centre specialises in camping and hiking equipment. Before, or after, visiting Abel Tasman, stop in for gourmet doughnuts or a low and slow Americanstyle barbecue at The Smoking Barrel.
Craft beers harnessing the region’s world-class hops are available at the Townshend Brewery & Tap Room, while Sunday morning’s Motueka Farmers’ Market is always worth visiting.