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Overview
Tours run: Weekly
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- F
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- J
- J
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- S
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- D
3 Days / 2 Nights
- START - Nelson
- END - Nelson
- Walking
Activity Level Guide
EasyAn average level of fitness. Walk 7km, Bike 15km
Well formed tracks and roads with very little incline MildAn average level of fitness . Walk 12km, Bike, 25km
Well formed tracks and roads with average incline ModerateAbove average level of fitness. Walk 20km, Bike 45km
Formed tracks and roads with average to steep inclines at times ChallengingAbove average level of fitness Walk 20+km, Bike 50+km
Partially formed tracks and roads with some steep inclines and possibly some easy river crossingsNew Zealand's Finest Coastal Walk — Plus A Cruise!
What's included
- All accommodation
- All meals
- Fully guided
- Boat transport
- All transport requirements
- Luggage transport each day
- Comprehensive safety systems
The Abel Tasman Coastal Walk — 3 Days is great for those short on time, who want to see as much of the Abel Tasman track as possible. A boat cruise will take you to the start of your walk through lush native forest and golden sandy beaches from Totaranui in the north to Marahau in the south. It's pleasant walking, with no point higher than 150 m.
We'll take care of the details, leaving you free to enjoy. Our guides and hosts will help you make the most of each day. Choose to have time on your own, or share some insights into local culture and natural history.
Itinerary & MapDates and Availability?
Tours run: Weekly
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Customisations?
We can customise tours to suit.
Fitness levels?
We can help you prepare and evaluate your fitness.
Nicky
Hamish
Itinerary & Map
The Abel Tasman Walk — 3 Days is ideal for people who are short on time, and want to walk the length of the 38 km Abel Tasman coastal walk, including a scenic cruise along the coastline. You'll stay 1 night at beautiful Torrent Bay Lodge and 1 at Meadowbank Homestead in Awaroa.
Larger Map
Pre Tour: On the morning of your first day, we will pick you up from your accommodation, or if you have a car, we will direct you to safe parking. Day Packs can be borrowed if required, and we can safely store any excess luggage. There is a safe in the office for use if you need to store valuable items.
Please Note: This tour is very flexible, with a number of options available to take optimal advantage of weather conditions for your walking comfort.
- The trip direction may be reversed in some cases, with an earlier pick up in Nelson and Motueka.
- Please tell us if tour start and finish times do not suit your schedule. We will try to arrange alternatives.
- Walking each day is optional. Some people prefer to take the ferry between lodges. This flexibility is perfect for couples or groups who are visiting the park together, but wish to do different things. Please discuss options with your guide before each day's departure.
Day 1: Nelson / Motueka to Awaroa via Totaranui
Welcome! We'll pick you up in Nelson (10.30 - 11.00 am) or Motueka (11.40 am). Alternatively, if you are driving yourself, please meet us at our Motueka office by 11.45 am. NOTE: Wednesday departures are earlier than the times stated. Please contact us for details.
At our office you'll meet your guide for the first time, and be briefed on the tour. There'll be time for last-minute luggage checks before we depart to Kaiteriteri by coach. At 1 pm, we'll take a Vista Cruise along the National Park coastline. It's a comfortable cruise with refreshments and viewing decks on board. On arrival at Totaranui we'll regroup for a 2 hour walk south (5.5 km + tidal crossing) from Totaranui to Meadowbank. You'll stay at a homestead on the best site in Awaroa Bay.
Included: Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner
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Lodge
Lodge
Relax and enjoy the surroundings.- Lodges are usually run by managers who live on site and will also prepare meals for you.
- Most are in scenic locations.
- Known for individuality in design or landscaping.
- Comfortable beds, all linen and amenities provided.
Known for special extra touches such as complimentary beverages, designer linen, hand crafted accessories, boutique wines (may vary at each property)
- Walking
Day 2: Awaroa to Torrent Bay
After a great night's sleep, we'll depart Awaroa Bay and walk over the Tonga Saddle to Onetahuti, with its golden sand beach and impressive granite headlands. Relax on the beach, or visit Tonga Quarry, a historic granite mining site. At noon, we'll have lunch at Bark Bay, with its golden sand. We'll take some time to relax, explore, swim or sunbathe. Later, we'll walk through native forest and cross the swing bridge at Falls River. We'll admire the series of magnificent views of headlands, estuaries and beaches on the way. Next, we'll continue to our overnight stop: Torrent Bay Lodge, on the beachfront.
Included: Breakfast, Morning and Afternoon Tea, Lunch, Dinner
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Lodge
Lodge
Relax and enjoy the surroundings.- Lodges are usually run by managers who live on site and will also prepare meals for you.
- Most are in scenic locations.
- Known for individuality in design or landscaping.
- Comfortable beds, all linen and amenities provided.
Known for special extra touches such as complimentary beverages, designer linen, hand crafted accessories, boutique wines (may vary at each property)
- Walking
Day 3: Torrent Bay to Motueka/Nelson
Today is our last day. We'll follow the well-graded final section of the coastal track, and see the pristine bays and beaches named by the French explorer, Dumont d'Urville in 1827. We'll have lunch at one of the bays, then walk the last leg to Marahau. Here, your coach awaits to return you to either Motueka (4.30pm) or Nelson (5.30pm).
Included: Breakfast, Morning and Afternoon Tea, Lunch
- Walking
**This tour is run in conjunction with another operator.
What's included?
Accommodation
Lodge
Relax and enjoy the surroundings.- Lodges are usually run by managers who live on site and will also prepare meals for you.
- Most are in scenic locations.
- Known for individuality in design or landscaping.
- Comfortable beds, all linen and amenities provided.
Known for special extra touches such as complimentary beverages, designer linen, hand crafted accessories, boutique wines (may vary at each property)
Food
You will enjoy great local cuisine; continental breakfasts and hearty packed lunches during the day, and either restaurant meals or wholesome home-cooked fare prepared by your host/hostess in the evenings.
If you have any dietary issues or food allergies, we are happy to cater for these, please advise the office of details when you make your booking.
Alcohol is not included in the tour cost, but is available for purchase most nights or you are welcome to bring a small amount with you for personal consumption if you prefer.
Fully Guided
Our guides are very experienced, friendly walkers who love to share their knowledge of New Zealand’s flora and fauna and local history. They all hold current first aid certificates, passenger driving licences and are the very best people to ensure your experience will be one to remember.
What Should I Bring?
The Abel Tasman National Park has the highest sunshine hours in New Zealand. Temperatures are usually comfortable year-round, with winter sunshine and summer sea breezes. Summer temperatures average 22°C (72° F). Winters feature light morning frosts and cool nights, to enjoy in front of the lodge fires!
However, pack for all weather conditions, as New Zealand weather can be be changeable.
Please bring these items:
- Warm wool and polar fleece layers
- Lightweight raincoat
- Quick-drying thermal layers, even in summer (polypropylene, polar fleece, wool)
- Spare set of hiking clothes
- Day pack (or borrow one of our 30 litre day packs). Use a plastic liner inside to keep your day requirements dry.
- Personal medication (to be carried each day)
- Good sports/hiking shoes (boots may be brought if preferred, but are not necessary for the well-formed track)
- Sandshoes, water socks or sports sandals for tidal crossings (jandals, flip-flops etc. are not suitable)
- Swimwear and towel (optional)
- Sun hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses
- Casual evening clothes
- Underwear
- Socks, including spare pairs
- Sleepwear
- Slippers for evening (optional)
- Flashlight/torch
- Lunch and water bottles (supplied by us)
- Camera.
Cotton clothing is not recommended. Cotton (especially denim) is heavy and cold when wet, and is slow to dry.
NOTE: Sun Protection There is a high risk of sunburn due to the park's high sunshine hours and pollution-free skies. The risk applies even on cloudy days. Be sure to use your sunscreen, sunhats and sunglasses.
For walking: Light, comfortable walking shoes are suitable, or worn-in hiking boots if you prefer. You can expect to keep your feet dry, depending on tides and conditions. Occasionally you may have to wade a short distance embarking or disembarking from boats.
Lodge Luggage Bag: We will supply you with a sports bag (47x35x25cm). This bag will be carried by launch to the lodges. We will also supply you waterproof plastic bags. Pack all clothing inside these bags before you pack them into your sports bag. This provides extra protection to keep clothes dry during the boat transfers.
NO HAIRDRYERS PLEASE! Our electricity supply is via generator, and cannot power hairdryers. Battery chargers and electric razors are OK.
Please do not bring tissues or paper towels. They add to litter in the park. Please bring cotton handkerchiefs instead.
PLEASE DO NOT TAKE VALUABLES INTO THE PARK. Jewellery, wallets, travel documents, passports, etc can be stored securely in our office.
CELLPHONE COVERAGE IS UNAVAILABLE IN SOME PARTS OF THE PARK. This applies south of Awaroa. There is no coverage north of Awaroa Bay.
A shop is available at our office, for last-minute purchases of items such as insect repellent, sunscreen, beach towels, flashlights and batteries, and waterproof disposable cameras.
Tour inclusions
- Guides, chefs and boat crew
- ALL food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning and afternoon teas)
- All linen and towels at the lodges
- 750 ml water bottles
- Waterproof plastic liners for bags
- All technical and safety equipment on kayaks. We supply stable double kayaks, water-resistant paddling tops, bouyancy vests and dry bags
- A Lodge Luggage Bag (yours to keep)
- Day packs for you to borrow.
Safety and Risk Management
To ensure maximum safety for all, our guides are certified first aiders and fully qualified drivers. Tuatara Tours operate under a Safety and Risk Management Plan which is regularly audited and approved by a qualified and independent auditor.
Photos
Abel Tasman Track click on a picture to see in more detail
All Abel Tasman Photos Courtesy of Wilsons
History
National Park
Perrine Moncrieff, a Nelson conservationist, campaigned to have crown land made into a national park after she became concerned at the prospect of logging along the beautiful coast. Abel Tasman National Park was formally designated as a National Park in 1942.
People
For at least 500 years, Maori have lived along the Abel Tasman coast , gathering food and growing kumara.
Abel Tasman anchored his two ships near Wainui (Golden Bay), in1642. He lost four crew in a fight with the local maori, Ngati Tumatakokiri.
European settlement began around 1855. The settlers logged forests, built ships, quarried granite and fired the hillsides to create pasture.
For a time there was prosperity but soon the easy timber was gone and the hills were invaded by gorse and bracken. Little now remains of their enterprise and the ravaged landscape is slowly healing..
Flora and Fauna
Flora: Black beech covers the dry ridges and headlands, with hard beech where more moisture is available. Kanuka grows where there has been windfall fires. Manuka occurs where repeated burning has taken place.
Areas covered by the highest tides are salt marsh vegetation: rushes, glasswort and sea primrose.
Fauna: Bellbird, fantail, pigeon and tui are the main forest birds. Around the beaches, estuaries and wetlands, pukeko are common.
Wading birds prowl the estuaries, while, gannets, shags and terns can be seen diving offshore. Little penguins feed at sea and return to burrows on the park's islands at night.
Fur seals are found along the coast of the park, particularly on the more remote granite headlands of Separation Point, Tonga Island and Pinnacle Island.
