Overview
A five day, self-guided walking holiday along the Abel Tasman Coastal Track, it’s one of New Zealand’s official Great Walks, located on a northern peninsula of the South Island. The Coastal Track lies within Abel Tasman National Park, and you stay at beachfront lodges or traditional homesteads along the way. Dip in and out of the trail on a relaxed itinerary that has three main walks through forest and coastal bush, beaches and bays. The walks start on day one, starting from the moment the boat arrives in Awaroa Bay, where you spend two nights, followed by two nights in Torrent Bay, before getting the boat back to Kaiteriteri and a final transfer to Nelson.
- Abel Tasman National Park
- Abel Tasman Coastal Track
- Awaroa Bay
- Torrent Bay
- Mārahau
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Motueka and Awaroa | 7km
From Nelson city or airport, you are transferred (included, 35mins) to Motueka for a welcome meeting with our local representative. You then have another short transfer to Kaiteriteri (included, 1h), where you board a catamaran water taxi to sail along the Abel Tasman coast (included, 1h 40mins). Disembark at Tōtaranui and walk through native forest and along beaches towards Awaroa Bay, crossing the coastal inlet on foot at low tide or by boat when the tide is high (included). Luggage is delivered to the accommodation, so you only carry what you need for the day.
- Walking for the day: 2.5h, 7km, ↑100m, ↓100m
- Accommodation: Meadowbank Homestead in Awaroa Bay or similar
- Meals: lunch, dinner
Day 2: Rest day in Awaroa Bay
Explore Abel Tasman’s largest tidal estuary on foot or by kayak (payable locally), depending on the tide, or visit historic sites such as Awaroa Head, a former fortified Māori defensive settlement. We also recommend a visit to Venture Creek during low tide to see the remains of the old shipbuilding site. If you prefer a more restful day, it’s a perfect place to relax on the beach or just spend time at the beachfront homestead.
- Accommodation: Meadowbank Homestead in Awaroa Bay or similar
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: Awaroa Bay – Torrent Bay | 20km
Follow the coastal track through forest and beach boardwalks. The route is divided into three walking sections of roughly two hours each, passing Onetahuti campsite, Tonga Quarry and Bark Bay. Explore the former quarry site, walk along the waterfall trail and stop at Bark Bay for lunch and a swim. The final stretch crosses the Falls River swing bridge and continues towards Torrent Bay. Water taxis between Awaroa and Onetahuti, and between Bark Bay and Torrent Bay, are available (payable locally) and can shorten the total walking distance.
- Walking for the day: 6h, 20km, ↑310m, ↓310m
- Accommodation: Torrent Bay Lodge in Torrent Bay or similar
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Rest day in Torrent Bay
Although this is a day to chill out, there are plenty of walks on the lodge’s doorstep, which you can choose according to tides, and your hosts will advise accordingly. Options include Falls River waterfalls, Cleopatra’s Pool at the base of the Torrent River, Anchorage beach and the Māori sites at Pitt Head, as well as kayaking in the estuary (payable locally). If you prefer a slower pace, the beach and lodge offer plenty of space to unwind.
- Accommodation: Torrent Bay Lodge in Torrent Bay or similar
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: Torrent Bay – Mārahau and departure | 13km/16km
Your luggage is handled by your hosts and transferred by boat to be picked up later today. Begin the final walk along the easiest section of the coastal track towards Mārahau, also known as Abel Tasman Village. Depending on the tide, either take the inlet shortcut or follow the longer route around it. The track offers several side paths to small beaches where you can stop for lunch and take a dip in the sea, with views of Adele Island. The walk finishes in Mārahau, where there are plenty of beach and water activities available such as horse trekking and kayaking (payable locally). Your driver meets you in Mārahau for the return transfer to Motueka (included, 25mins), collecting luggage from the boat in Kaiteriteri en route, before the final transfer to Nelson (included, 35mins).
- Walking for the day: 4-5h, 13km/16km, ↑110m, ↓110m
- Meals: breakfast, lunch
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes traditional homestays. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to natural adventures. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- Meadowbank Homestead (Awaroa)
- Torrent Bay Lodge (Torrent Bay)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Four breakfasts, five lunches and four dinners are included.
Difficulty and terrain
This trip is graded easy to moderate (read more about difficulty grades). Walking distances are between 7km and 20km, with some mild elevation gain and gentle climbs. The longest walking day is 20km, however, this can be shortened with boat transfers.
We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
When to go
This trip is available to start every Tuesday from January to December.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
The best months to visit are November to March when the average temperature is around 22C. For more information, see our blog, Best time to go to New Zealand.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this holiday is Nelson Airport (NSN) for domestic flights or Christchurch Airport (CHC) for international flights.
By train or bus
By bus: There is a bus service from Christchurch to Nelson with a change in Blenheim (8h). For information and tickets, visit Intercity or use the Omio planner above.
By ferry: There are return ferry services between Wellington and Picton (3-4h) and bus services between Picton and Nelson (2h 15mins). For ferry times and tickets, visit Interislander and for bus times and tickets, visit Intercity or use the Omio planner above.
Inclusions
Included
- 4 nights accommodation
- 4 breakfasts
- 4 dinners
- 5 lunches
- Welcome meeting on day one
- Arrival transfer from Nelson Airport or city to Motueka and from Motueka to Kaiteriteri on day one
- Transfer from Mārahau to Motueka and from Motueka to Nelson on day five
- Boat transfer from Kaiteriteri to Tōtaranui
- Luggage transfers on day one, three and five (luggage must fit in the supplied luggage bags which are 40L in size and 47x35x25cm, maximum weight 20kg)
- Park entry to Abel Tasman National Park
- Detailed printed holiday information pack including route notes and maps provided at the welcome meeting and access to a digital navigation app
- 24/7 phone support by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Meals not mentioned as included
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- We regret that this tour is not open to solo travellers
- Extra nights on request
