Abel Tasman National Park may be New Zealand’s smallest, but there’s no inferiority complex here. With coastal tracks and campsites – as well as a less-frequented inland track with huts – Abel Tasman is a year-round destination, in contrast to many of its alpine national park counterparts. Plus, you can commit to a multi-day hike or not, as water taxi services make it easy to dip in for a day trip.
Trek the Multi-Day Coast or Inland Tracks
Abel Tasman’s two long treks – the Inland Track and the Coast Track – offer a good introduction to New Zealand tramping because they’re not especially difficult nor remote, and there are beautiful beaches on which to chill out at the end of a day of walking (Coast Track only). Advance planning is required as tide timings have a big impact on daily walking schedules on the Coast Track, and both tent and hut accommodation should be booked in advance on the Coast Track. Bookings aren't necessary on the less-popular Inland Track.
The three-to-five-day, 60km Coast Track passes through forested hills, along suspension bridges, past waterfalls and swimming holes, and on to pristine beaches. It’s relatively easy, with no big climbs or very challenging terrain, and many kids do it. This Great Walk is a one-way track and can be started at Mārahau (up the coast from Kaiteriteri) or the Wainui Inlet (Golden Bay/Mohua). Most people start from Mārahau and use water taxis to cut the trek down to three days, meaning days four and five can be very peaceful for trekkers who stay the course, or the first couple of days are for anyone starting from the Golden Bay/Mohua end. Accommodation is mostly at campsites (carry your own tent), but there are four good-quality huts. Whichever your direction of travel, check tide timings before planning your hiking days.
The Inland Track is far less popular because you don’t get those glorious beaches every day and it’s a more advanced tramp. But it’s a good option if you’re seeking solitude and birdsong in the regenerating forest, and granite outcrops provide sweeping coastal views. The three-day trek also starts/ends in Mārahau/the Wainui Inlet but cuts into the park via Pigeon Saddle, which crosses the Tākaka to Tōtaranui Road. Accommodation is in huts, and no reservations are required here.
Kaiteriteri's Wilson's Abel Tasman (abeltasman.co.nz) who also run cruises and water taxis run guided multi-day walks if you'd rather not go it alone.
Abel Tasman Short Walks
You don’t need to complete the full Coast Track to hike in Abel Tasman. Thanks to networks of water taxis and cruises, it’s easy to enjoy a short walk of a day or less. No-fuss, low-budget options are to enter the park at Mārahau and walk as far as you want along the start of the Coast Track before returning the way you came. Porters Beach is an easy 10-minute amble from the park entrance, while the hike to Apple Tree Bay makes a good day trip for families, at around three hours return. Fast, energetic walkers could make it to Anchorage and back to Mārahau in on a summer’s day: Anchorage is about four hours’ walk from the park entrance.
If you’re entering the park from the Golden Bay/Mohua side, walk the easy 1.5-hour Wainui Falls Track from Wainui Bay, 20km from Tākaka.
Cruise and water-taxi companies operating out of Kaiteriteri and Mārahau make it possible to go deeper within the park for a day hike. Wilson's Abel Tasman has a multitude of options and packages departing from Kaiteriteri. A fun full-day trip starts with a morning cruise to Tonga Quarry Beach. The hike starts out steep, going up into the forest, but high-up views of the turquoise ocean and white-sand bays soon reward the moderately challenging start. Hike for around two hours to Medlands Beach and be picked up in the afternoon. The DOC campsite at Bark Bay is an ideal picnic stop along the way. A shorter option is to be dropped off and picked up at Medlands Beach, which allows for a short walk (around 45 minutes return) to Bark Bay Falls. Anchorage Beach also offers access to some lovely short tracks, with destinations including the Pitt Head Lookout, stunning Te Pukatea Bay and Cleopatra’s Pool, all suitable for active kids (or parents with carriers).
Day Cruises
Coastal cruises make Abel Tasman National Park accessible to everyone. Departing from Kaiteriteri and Mārahau, various operators (including Wilson's Abel Tasman) run up and down the coast as far as Tōtaranui. Cruise highlights include Split Apple Rock and the fur seals basking on the rocks of Motuareronui/Adele Island. Sea conditions can be rough towards the northern coast.
In some places you can be dropped off at a beach and picked up later. A good option is to step ashore at gorgeous white-sand Awaroa Beach and have lunch at nearby Awaroa Lodge, one of the few private properties within the national park. There’s a seasonal (summer) outdoor pizzeria there, too.
Paddle in the Park
Although Abel Tasman isn’t New Zealand’s only national park with a coastline, it does offer the most accessible and flexible kayaking adventures. Tour operators running out of Kaiteriteri, Mārahau and Golden Bay/Mohua (including Golden Bay Kayaks at Tata Beach) offer guided tours and kayak rental for the more confident and experienced. Worthwhile short trips are from Kaiteriteri to Split Apple Rock (although this doesn’t quite enter the park’s boundaries), and from Mārahau to Motuarerouni/Adele Island and Fisherman Island, to see the fur seals.
