Abel Tasman Coast Track

Walk Overview

The Abel Tasman Coast Track is one of the nine walks (soon to be ten) designated by New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (DOC) as a New Zealand Great Walk.

Chosen for their diverse and spectacular scenery, the great walks are well formed and sign-posted and incorporate DOC accommodation huts (DOC warden-manned in season). Their status as great walks delivers popularity, meaning that they are well serviced by local operators and accommodation and transport providers.

The Abel Tasman Coast Track is 60 km in length. It’s a one way path running between the small townships of Marahau and Wainui. If doing the walk south to north, the start is Marahau; if doing the walk north to south, the start is Wainui. Most people do the walk from the south to the north.

The Abel Tasman Coast Track is generally regarded as one of the easier of New Zealand’s nine great walks. This is because there is little climbing and the generally mild weather. But easy doesn’t mean less appealing; with its pristine coastal native bush and idyllic golden-sand bays, the Abel Tasman Coastal Track is very alluring.

There are four DOC huts and 19 DOC 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.

Most walkers spend 3-5 days on the track. Five days allows time to explore some of the estuaries and islands, particularly those in the vicinity of Anchorage and Awaroa. Three days involves combining days 2 and 3 plus days 4 and 5, as set out in the itinerary below.

Further information:

• A five day itinerary is described below.

• For more information on walking in the Abel Tasman National Park, click the button below.

Itinerary

The walk takes 5 days to complete. An itinerary completing the entire track is shown below.

Day 1

Marahau to Anchorage

Distance: 12.4km

Time: 4 hours

Accommodation or Camping: Both available

Day 2

Anchorage to Bark Bay

Distance: 11.5km

Time: 4 hours

Accommodation or Camping: Both available

Day 3

Bark Bay to Awaroa

Distance: 13.5km

Time: 4.5 hours

Accommodation or Camping: Both available

Walk Options

Guided

Several tour operators offer this walk as a guided trip, using the limited private lodge accommodation available (not the DOC public huts).

Some of these operators do not actually cover the entire Abel Tasman Coast Track, instead covering the stretch between Totaranui and Marahau (being about three-quarters of the entire track). These operators offer 3 or 5 day tours, with the 5 day trips incorporating 2 “lay-days”.

The tour operators that cover the entire track combine Days 2 and 3 (as one day’s walk) plus Days 4 and 5 (as one day’s walk) from the typical itinerary shown in the table above. This is because there is no accommodation other than the DOC huts at Bark Bay or Whariwharangi Bay. It does result in reasonably long walks on those two days. Their tours are four day tours, with the fourth day just being the return trip from the end of the walk back to Nelson.

Typically, the packages offered by these operators include:

• Transfers from and to Nelson

• Lodge or lodge/boat accommodation along track

• Luggage transfers between accommodation

• All meals

• One guide

Assisted self-guided

A couple of tour operators offer self-guided services on the Abel Tasman Coast Track using the limited lodge accommodation available (not the DOC public huts). Typically, the package includes:

• Transport from and to Nelson

• Lodge/boat accommodation along track

• Luggage transfers between lodges

• Most meals 

Independent

Independent walkers have the choice of camping or using the DOC public huts. Regardless of your choice and no matter what time of the year you do the walk, you will need to book a hut or campsite for each night on the track ahead of starting. If you are doing the walk in the summer months, you will need to book the DOC huts a long way ahead; they book up very quickly.

The huts have bunks, mattresses, heating, toilets, cold running water and hand-washing facilities. They also have cooking benches, tables and bench seating. They may have a lighting source and a DOC ranger may be present. The huts do not provide cooking facilities, cooking utensils, linen or showers.

Each of the huts has a filtered water site. If the DOC water filter system is not working correctly, you should be prepared to boil, treat or filter water.

The campsites provide basic facilities including toilets, sinks and a water supply. Some also have picnic tables and cooking shelters.

As the walk is a one-way walk, before commencing it you will also need to book your transport from the end of the walk.

Essential Information

Access

When walking the Abel Tasman Coast Track from south to north, the starting point is the small township of Marahau. Marahau is 67 km from Nelson on a sealed road.

If doing the walk from north to south, the starting point is Wainui. Wainui is 21 km from Takaka (the last 2 km of which is unsealed).

The track is well serviced by public transport including buses/coaches and boat transport.

Private cars can be left at DOC car parks at Marahau and Wainui. 

The drive between Wainui and Marahau (or the other way around) takes about 2.5 hours. While the distance is only 100 km, the road is narrow and unsealed in parts.

Water taxis operate year round from Marahau and Kaiteriteri. The scheduled water taxi pickup locations are: Anchorage, Bark Bay, Onetahuti, Awaroa and Totaranui.

Park entry

Hut or campsite tickets must be purchased before commencing the walk and must be carried on the walk.

Best time

The walk can be done at any time of the year. The warmer months provide more opportunities to make the most of the wonderful beaches along the track.

Accommodation

In addition to the walk accommodation described in ‘Walk Options’ above, there are several accommodation options at either end of the track and along the track. 

At the southern end of the track, Marahau and Kaiteriteri have some great accommodation options.

At the other end of the walk, Pohara Beach, a small beachside settlement on the eastern side of Golden Bay has some excellent options for some comfort at the end of the walk. 

Some accommodation providers will pick you up from the end of the walk.

Some of the accommodation providers near to the track are attuned to walkers’ needs or offer amenities suited to walkers.

We can assist walkers in choosing the accommodation options which best suit their needs.

Other activities

As a popular tourism destination, the Abel Tasman National Park region offers many attractions in addition to the Abel Tasman Coast Track. Many walkers choose to add extra days to their trip so that they can further explore the region. Kayaking tours are very popular in the area, as are fishing trips and scenic flights.

Assistance and Booking

We can help you choose and book a walking holiday that best suits your needs and your budget. We can also assist with transport, accommodation and travel insurance.