Highlights

• Discover Cleopatra's Pool – natural rock pool with a moss-lined waterslide.
• Admire the beautiful inlet to Falls River as you walk across a 47 m suspension bridge.
• Keep an eye out for fur seals/kekeno.
• Crystal-clear waters of Tonga Island Marine Reserve.

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What to expect

The track is well marked and signposted, but some sections may be steep and rough and the track could be muddy.

There is one compulsory tidal crossing – check the tide tables for when it's safe to cross.

Walking options

Walk the whole track in either direction, take a water taxi or kayak between different locations.

Places to stay

There are 4 huts and 18 campsites along the Abel Tasman Coast Track, which must be booked in advance all year round. Visitors arriving without a valid booking, or staying at a hut or campsite other than the one named on their ticket, will be charged a penalty fee or may be asked to leave the park.

Note, campsites are designed for tents and are not suitable for hammocks. Campers are not permitted to use hut facilities.

Marahau to Anchorage

Time: 4 hr
Distance: 12.4 km

You’ll begin your journey as you cross the estuary over the Marahau causeway, and follow the track, first through open country, then lush beech forest with large kānuka trees. The track eventually turns inland, winding in and out of several little gullies before emerging to a view of the beautiful Anchorage Bay. Here you’ll descend to Anchorage Hut and Campsite.

Side trip: Tinline Bay Nature Walk

Time: 20 min return

Home to a bizarre tree growing in an unusual place.

Campsites and huts between Marahau and Anchorage

• Tinline Campsite
• Coquille Bay Campsite
• Apple Tree Bay Campsite
• Akersten Bay Campsite
• Watering Cove Campsite
• Observation Beach Campsite
• Te Pukatea Bay Campsite
• Anchorage Campsite
• Anchorage Hut

Anchorage to Bark Bay

High tide track
Time: 4 hr
Distance: 11.5 km

Low tide crossing, Torrent Bay estuary
Time: 3 hr
Distance: 8.4 km

Torrent Bay estuary can be crossed within 2 hours either side of low tide, or you can take the all-tide track around it. An impressive 47-metre long suspension bridge takes you over Falls River. You’ll then meander through lush coastal forest before being led back to the sea and the idyllic golden sands of Bark Bay.

Suspension bridge on Google Street View

Side trip: Cascade Falls

Time: 1 hr 30 min return

A beautiful waterfall hidden in native bush that’s a great spot to cool off. The track is quite steep in parts.

Side trip: Cleopatra's Pool

This beautiful rock pool with clear cool water is a nice swimming hole.

Campsites and huts between Anchorage and Bark Bay

• Torrent Bay Village Campsite
• Bark Bay Campsite
• Bark Bay Hut

Bark Bay to Awaroa

Time: 4 hr 30 min
Distance: 13.5 km

Cross the beautiful Bark Bay estuary 2 hours either side of low tide or follow the all-tide track (10 minutes) around the edge of the estuary. A steep climb takes you through stands of mānuka. Return to the coast at Tonga Quarry and it’s a short walk from there to Onetahuti Bay, where one of the longest beaches in the Abel Tasman stretches before you.

The track then leads over the forested Tonga Saddle. At the junction just beyond the saddle, either stay on the main track around and down to Venture Creek, following the path up the hill to a lookout point over Awaroa Bay, before dropping down to walk to Awaroa Campsite and hut. Alternatively, if you need to catch a water taxi, turn right at the junction and take the non-DOC track down to the beach. At low tide, it is possible to follow the beach below the high tide mark around the inlet and wade across to Awaroa Hut and Campsite.

Take care to stay below the high tide mark away from nesting birds.

Onetahuti Bay on Google Street View

Campsites and huts between Bark Bay and Awaroa

• Mosquito Bay Campsite
• Onetahuti BayCampsite
• Awaroa Campsite
• Awaroa Hut

Awaroa to Whariwharangi Bay

Awaroa to Tōtaranui

Time: 2 hr 20 min
Distance: 7.1 km (tidal)

Tōtaranui to Whariwharangi Bay

Time: 3 hr 15 min
Distance: 9.8 km

Awaroa Inlet can only be crossed within 1 hour 30 minutes before and 2 hours after low tide. Along the track, the scenery alternates between sandy beaches and rocky headlands of regenerating kānuka. Camp or stay in the cosy and historic Whariwharangi Hut (a former homestead built around 1896) just behind the beach.

Campsites and huts between Awaroa and Wainui

• Waiharakeke Bay Campsite
• Tōtaranui Great Walk Campsite
• Anapai Bay Campsite
• Mutton Cove Campsite
• Whariwharangi Bay Campsite
• Whariwharangi Bay Hut

Whariwharangi Bay to Wainui

Time: 2 hr
Distance: 5.7 km

Follow a trickling stream and climb above the bay to a saddle overlooking the serene Wainui Inlet. The inlet is a great place to swim or to explore rock pools. The track winds down to the shore and follows the estuary edge to the car park.

Whariwharangi Bay to Tōtaranui

Time: 3 hr
Distance: 9 km

From Whariwharangi Hut follow a small stream, then climb out of the bay to a low saddle overlooking Wainui Inlet. At this point take a left turn onto the Gibbs Hill Track. This track will take you over the steep Gibbs Hill then back down to Tōtaranui.

From Tōtaranui you can get a water taxi back to Mārahau, ensure you allow enough time to walk to Totaranui. Refer to your water taxi provider for their pick up and drop off locations and timetable.

Note this is a shared-use track. Mountain biking Wainui – Gibbs Hill – Tōtaranui is allowed from 1 May to 30 September at any time of the day. There is a maximum group size of eight riders.

The Abel Tasman Coast Track has four main entrances

Marahau is the southern gateway

It's 67 km from Nelson on sealed road providing access by water taxi, kayak, or walking

Wainui is the northern entrance

It's 128 km from Nelson and 21 km from Takaka. For the last 2 km, the road is unsealed providing access by walking

Totaranui

Totaranui is 160 km from Nelson and 32 km from Takaka providing access by walking and water taxi. The last 12 km of the road is unsealed but suitable for campervans.

Kaiteriteri

Kaiteriteri is 61 km from Nelson providing access by kayak or water taxi. Note: This is 7 km from the track entrance by walking and it is not advisable to walk this.

It is also possible to access Awaroa estuary on a road that is 31 km from Takaka. The last 12 km of road is rough, unsealed and prone to flooding. It is not recommended as an entrance to the Park.

Transport options

Abel Tasman Coast Track locality map

Most visitors only walk in one direction on the Coast Track and get a water taxi in the other direction.

There are commercial water taxis that operate between Marahau/Kaiteriteri and Totaranui. Water taxis are not permitted to go above Totaranui, so there is no service to Wainui or any of the Northern bays. Visitors travelling beyond Totaranui use the Gibbs Hill Track to make a loop in the Northern end of the Park.

You can make a 5–7 day circuit using the Abel Tasman Inland Track. However, the Inland Track is very steep, rough underfoot and does not have many viewpoints.

Water taxis operate year round and must be booked in advance. The scheduled water taxi pickup locations are Apple Tree Bay, Anchorage, Medlands Bay, Bark Bay, Tonga Quarry, Onetahuti, Awaroa and Totaranui.

Many of the water taxi and kayak companies have shuttle buses for their clients.

Vehicle parking

DOC provides a carpark at Marahau, Totaranui and Wainui road ends. Cars are parked at your own risk.

There is strictly no freedom camping.

Water taxi and kayak operators have their own private car parking for clients.

Note: There are some low tide crossings along the Abel Tasman Coast Track.

Do not cross when it's not low tide as it's dangerous.

Where you need to do tide crossings

Torrent Bay Estuary

• This can be crossed 2 hours on either side of low tide, under normal conditions.
• There is an all tide track around the estuary. This gives access to Cleopatra’s Pool.

Awaroa Inlet

• You can cross Awaroa Inlet within 1 hour 30 minutes before and 2 hours after low tide. Although this can be affected by natural influences such as tide heights, storm surges, and heavy rainfall.
• Only cross the inlet in daylight when it's safe.
• Allow 25 minutes to cross.
• No alternative track around the estuary.

Goat Bay

• There is a section of the access to the beach that is cut at large tides.
• Wait until the tide recedes before continuing.

Download the low tide timetables

• November 2024 – February 2025 (PDF, 60K)
• March – June 2025 (PDF, 60K)
• July – October 2025 (PDF, 60K) 

View as tables

Summer 

• December 2024
• January 2025
• February 2025

If you haven't kayaked before

For people who haven’t kayaked before, a guided trip is recommended. If you're renting a kayak or going on a guided trip, discuss your kayak trip with your chosen kayak operator before booking huts or campsites.

If you're not going on a guided trip

For independent kayak rentals, a minimum of two people and previous sea-kayaking experience are essential.

Kayaking weather dependant

Kayaking is more weather dependent than walking along the Coast Track. Abel Tasman National Park weather forecast – NIWA website.

Book campsites that are within your kayaking ability and plan for the worst weather – head winds and rough seas. Then, if the weather makes kayaking slow you will still get to your campsite. If the weather is fine and there is a tail wind, you can always kayak to your campsite, set up your tent and then go exploring with your kayak without your overnight gear. 

Assess your fitness, the wind strength and direction and sea swell before proceeding each day. If the weather is too rough to safely kayak to your intended destination (the campsite you have booked), stop and wait for a few hours for sea conditions to improve.

Only camp at a campsite other than the one you have booked for safety reasons. 

Never risk your life by kayaking in dangerous seas.

Paddling times

Rough paddling times for experienced kayakers in calm conditions without stops are:

• Marahau to Anchorage 4 hr
• Anchorage to Bark Bay 2 hr
• Bark Bay to Onetahuti 1 hr 30 min

Where kayaking is not recommended

Kayaking is not recommended north of Onetahuti Bay due to the remote and exposed coastline.