Day Hikes on the Abel Tasman Coast Track
The Abel Tasman Coastal Track is one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets. It’s a mirage of golden sand paradise, on an island that’s been made famous by its Southern Alps with dramatic granite mountain peaks and rain-forest – as seen in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. So read on to discover how you can explore New Zealand’s smallest and arguably most beautiful National Park!
The Abel Tasman Coast Track at a glance:
- Can be walked in either direction between Marahau and Wainui Bay.
- 60 kilometres long (37 miles) – A to B track.
- Typically takes four nights, five days to complete
What we’ll do as part of our New Zealand Walking Tour trips:
- Onetahuti to Awaroa. This 7.1km (4.4mi) walk will take approximately 2.5 hours at a leisurely pace.
- Awaroa to Totaranui. Also 7.1km (4.4mi) and taking approximately 2.5 hours.
Map of the Abel Tasman Coastal Track day hikes:
Which trips include the Abel Tasman Coast Track day walk?
Elegant South – 11 days, Nelson to Queenstown.
Where is the Abel Tasman Coast Track?
The Abel Tasman Coast Track takes in the majority of the coastline of the Abel Tasman National Park. The Abel Tasman is often called New Zealand’s most beautiful national park, although we’re not convinced we can pick a winner in that category! Both the park and the track are named after Abel Tasman, who was the first European to see New Zealand, in 1642.
The Abel Tasman National Park occupies a small area of the north-west corner of New Zealand’s South Island. At 225 square kilometres (87 square miles), it is the smallest of New Zealand’s national parks. The landscape consists of beautiful golden sandy beaches, crystal clear ocean, unmodified estuaries, granite cliffs, and lush beech forest. The track is well marked, and some sections are steep and muddy.
What’s so special about the Abel Tasman Coast Track?
Like all of the Great Walks in New Zealand, the Abel Tasman Coast Track is recognised for its outstanding natural beauty. The track follows the coastline for much of its journey, taking in the golden sandy beaches, and beautifully crystal clear waters of the upper South Island’s Tasman Bay. Sections of the Abel Tasman Coast Track are on the beach itself, and there’s also an estuary to cross when the tide is out. You won’t be alone if you choose to take off your walking boots and socks, and feel the sand between your toes, and the waves around your feet, as you walk these sections.
On our ‘Elegant South’ trip we’ll walk two sections of the Abel Tasman Coast Track. The first section starts at Tonga Quarry, just south of Onetahuti Bay where Tonga Island Marine Reserve can be seen off the coast. The only way to get to this section for a day walk is by boat, and once we disembark, we’ll turn right and head to the north. We’ll cross a bridge over a tidal inlet, and walk on the beach for a short time, before returning to the forest. The track meanders inland, amongst mossy beech trees and waterfalls – walk alone for a few minutes and appreciate the intermittent bird song and the quiet trickle of a stream alongside the trail. After a couple of hours of gentle walking we’ll arrive back at the coast at Awaroa Lodge, our beautiful, secluded accommodation for the next two nights.
We’ll walk the second section of the Abel Tasman Coast Track the next morning, after a delicious breakfast. The tide will determine whether we walk this section north to south, or vice versa, and whether we catch our boat to the start of the walk, or from the end – seeing as we’ll need to cross the Awaroa Inlet. This section represents the variety of the national park – beautiful beaches, mossy forest, spectacular lookouts, and a historic timber mill. The beach at Waiharakeke Bay is one of the most stunning spots in the whole national park. You’ll want to be sure you’ve got your camera for both of these stunning walks in New Zealand’s smallest national park.
Reviews
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Simon Potter
3 years ago
This was fantastic getting out in the outbacks. Our guide Ellie was amazing she knew so much about the Trees, Birds, Tracks etc. We were so lucky to have her as our guide.
This was fantastic getting out in the outbacks. Our guide Ellie was amazing she knew so much about the Trees, Birds, Tracks etc.<br />
We were so lucky to have her as our guide. Because I was the oldest there (79) she made sure I was ok for the steep part of the tracks.<br />
Not only was she great as a guide but also great driver and cook. She knew all the restaurants to go to for great meals. To have her come along on most walks and boat trip was a great help .read more -
Erina Potter
3 years ago
We were so looked after by Ellie: she treated us like her own family. The best thing of this holiday was that I didn't need to do any organisation, it was all managed so well.
We were so looked after by Ellie: she treated us like her own family.<br />
The best thing of this holiday was that I didn't need to do any organisation, it was all managed so well. We seemed to get the best places to stay, the best restaurants to go to, even the best 'home cooked' meals.read more -
Tina Alberg
4 years ago
This was our 2nd visit to New Zealand. The first, in 2001, was a month long self driven tour of both islands with emphasis on the South and included taking the full escorted Milford Track adventure. It was the lifetime trip, at that time.
This Active Adventure trip outdid it. And the reason is the tour guides and the truly magnificent job they did in following the Active Adventure plan and in making seamless changes to it as required by weather and other problems along the way. Clare and Emma were there every day in every way necessary to the success of the trip. Wonderful.......read more
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Lori Pickens
4 years ago
Ms. Holly and Ms. Claire were the guides of a lifetime. They made all the difference between an okay trip and very eventful.
Ms. Holly and Ms. Claire were the guides of a lifetime. They made all the difference between an okay trip and very eventful.read more
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Jan Seals
4 years ago
This was a bucket list trip for us, and it was wonderful! A great overview of both islands. Well planned, great food, good accommodations & wonderful guides.
This was a bucket list trip for us, and it was wonderful! A great overview of both islands. Well planned, great food, good accommodations & wonderful guides.read more
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Cheryl Langford
4 years ago
This trip was above and beyond anything we imagined. The personal contact that continued from the first moment of booking to each day of our trip was very helpful. Our questions were answered before we could think of them in the kindest possible way.
This trip was above and beyond anything we imagined. The personal contact that continued from the first moment of booking to each day of our trip was very helpful. Our questions were answered before we could think of them in the kindest possible way. We were treated like honored family by our guides (hosts), Holly and Claire. They completely tailored the trip to our needs and desires on a day to day basis, as necessary. As amazing as the natural beauty of NZ is, the people we met through Active Adventures were even more so!read more
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Don Gordon
4 years ago
I have long wanted to visit the Fiordland/Southland area. My AA trip gave me a great overview of it. A great mix of food, wine, fun, and fitness. Thanks.
read more
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Eric Nodiff
4 years ago
New Zealand is an incredibly beautiful country and we experienced many of the highlights of the south island. The tour guides, Clare and Emma, were fantastic in every way and ensured a terrific experience.
New Zealand is an incredibly beautiful country and we experienced many of the highlights of the south island. The tour guides, Clare and Emma, were fantastic in every way and ensured a terrific experience. The views of Kaikoura Peninsula and Lake Wakatipu and Milford Sound will be engrained in my head forever. The hiking was great and the food was delish throughout the trip. I highly recommend this trip!read more
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Karen Nodiff
4 years ago
A trip to expand your mind meeting challenges and wonderful new people
in a gorgeous country while eating great food! A trip to expand your mind meeting challenges and wonderful new people<br />
in a gorgeous country while eating great food!read more -
Claudia Jurowski
4 years ago
This was a lovely tour with many especially high quality amenities such as the superior guides, Ellie and Lauren, the extraordinary meals, great wine and quality adventures.
Because of an extreme weather event we were unable to follow our original itinerary but great efforts were made to include equal quality activities. The luxury of this tour is not in the hotels or transportation but in the personal attention from the guides and quality food and drink.read more
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