Northound Track Notes Property Of
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©NORTHOUND TRACK NOTES PROPERTY OF Use of these notes implies agreement that Wilsons Abel Tasman cannot be responsible for your safety, or liable for extra cost incurred by loss or injury when walking unguided. • If you have not arrived at one of our Lodges by 6 pm, a search will launched. Please let your hosts know if you plan on a later arrival. • Any transport with another operator is at your own cost. • Please ask our Lodge and Boat Hosts for assistance if required. TIDES This region has one of the largest tidal ranges in the country, up to 5 metres (over 15 feet). Some areas are under water at high tide. There is usually a high tide alternative that will keep you dry but add extra time and distance to your walk. If you take a low tide route outside the recommended times, you must be prepared to be wading above your waist. Tide times are variable. Please record official tide times for your trip here: Day/Date Low Tide morning Low Tide afternoon To minimize risk, we recommend: • Always walk with at least one other person • Check times for tidal crossings • Stay on the main walking track • Carry a first aid kit • Prepare for weather changes with extra clothing • Carry a cellphone, but be aware there is variable reception for some phones and networks in the National Park. Drinking water: It is not recommended to drink unfiltered or untreated water in the Park. Water that is safe to drink is available at: • Our lodges – all taps (faucets) • DOC camps and huts as indicated on maps. Look for taps labeled “Drinking Water Only”. Please carry out all rubbish: No bins in the Park so dispose of rubbish at our Lodges or on our Vista Cruise. The National Park is administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC) They maintain walking tracks and provide toilet facilities at camp grounds and huts. Please use these facilities. Orange Track Markers Large orange discs or triangles mark the trail. Look out for these markers on beaches and tidal crossings. Signage: All times and distances on signs in the Park relate to DOC facilities. Our Lodges are on private land, and are not signposted. These notes will help you to locate our Lodges. © 2020 These notes are designed for Wilsons Abel Tasman’s guests who choose to walk independently. They remain the property of the company and are copyright. Marahau to Torrent Bay Lodge 4-5 hours (13-16 kms, 8-10 miles) depending on tides. Max elevation 110 m (360 ft) High tide track adds 1½ hour (3 kms) There is no filtered drinking water between Marahau and Torrent Bay. +Bay MARAHAU There are several optional side trips down to beaches where you can swim and picnic. Turnoffs are clearly marked with signposts. Beaches might be underwater at high tide. At Marahau: Car park, bus shelter and Park Café are located at the northern edge of the village. A boardwalk across the estuary leads to the start of Abel Tasman Coast Track. Tinline Camp (about 30 minutes from Marahau) has a toilet and optional Nature Walk loop. Apple Tree Bay (1 hour from Tinline) and Stilwell Bay (20 minutes from Apple Tree) are recommended for a lunch break. At high tide, access to Stilwell Bay crosses a narrow, sandy stream. Akersten Bay and Observation Beach: Tracks are very steep. Turn Off to Anchorage Beach: The first signposted turn off is the most scenic route to Anchorage. BUT, no high tide access to Torrent Bay for 3-4 hours each side of high tide (depending on tide height). © 2020 Page 2 409 HIGH STREET • MOTUEKA • NELSON • PHONE +64 3 528 2027 • NZ FREEPHONE 0800 223 582 • www.AbelTasman.co.nz High Tide Route Anchorage to Torrent Bay: Stay on the main coast track with views over Anchorage and follow the signs to Torrent Bay Village. If you go down to Anchorage Beach, you must return to the main coastal track to walk around the tidal inlet. Low Tide Route Anchorage to Torrent Bay: The track down to Anchorage Beach is approx 1 km (0.6 miles) and drops approx 60m (200 ft). At the beach, turn left (west). Walk along the beach and look for the orange track marker and sign for Torrent Bay (low tide route). Follow the orange markers across the inlet to Torrent Bay Village. At Anchorage Beach: the DOC campground, toilets and drinking water are at the eastern end of the beach (opposite end to the low tide route to Torrent Bay). At the DOC hut there are maps for the Pitt Head Loop track (1.5 hrs return) and Te Pukatea Bay (45 mins return). Torrent Bay Village: is a settlement of holiday homes on privately owned land Torrent Bay Lodge is on the waterfront at the centre of the village. Torrent Bay Lodge – View from the Beach If you walk into the village, along Lagoon Street, the rear entrance to Torrent Bay Lodge is at the junction with Manuka St. Anchorage Lagoon St Manuka St Open the back gate for our welcome to Torrent Bay Lodge © 2020 Page 3 409 HIGH STREET • MOTUEKA • NELSON • PHONE +64 3 528 2027 • NZ FREEPHONE 0800 223 582 • www.AbelTasman.co.nz Torrent Bay to Awaroa About 6-7 hours (17 - 18 kms, 10½ -11 miles) This walk is split into 3 sections (approximately 2 - 2.5 hours each). Before leaving the Lodge, if you would like less walking, please discuss with your hosts the options for boat transfers. Tidal Crossings at Bark Bay and Onetahuti These are narrow, sandy creeks and can be crossed with bare feet. Your destination is Meadowbank Homestead at Awaroa. There is another commercial property (Awaroa Lodge) not operated by us. You can purchase refreshments here. AWAROA INLET NOTE: The Awaroa Lodge & Cafe is not operated by Wilsons. Awaroa Lodge & Café Meadowbank Sky Track DOC Hut and Camp Boardwalk & Bridge Onetahuti Tonga Island Tonga Quarry Bark Bay Falls Swing Bridge Bark Bay Medlands Beach Falls River Swing Bridge TORRENT BAY Walking track Anchorage Tidal track © 2020 Page 4 409 HIGH STREET • MOTUEKA • NELSON • PHONE +64 3 528 2027 • NZ FREEPHONE 0800 223 582 • www.AbelTasman.co.nz Torrent Bay to Bark Bay: 7 kms (4.4 miles) Max elevation 105 m (340 ft) From the northern end of the village, the track leads up to a lookout over Torrent Bay. Follow the track north to cross the Falls River Swing Bridge, past a turnoff to Medlands Beach and 10 minutes further to Bark Bay. For a boat pick up, take the turn off to Medlands Beach. At Bark Bay: Filtered drinking water is available at the camp ground on the beach, and at the DOC hut, located about 10 minutes from the beach along the high tide track. Emergency radio: at the DOC hut. Low Tide Track: walk along the beach to the entrance to Bark Bay inlet. Cross the tidal creeks and look for the orange marker leading to the main coastal track. High Tide Track: turn inland just before the main beach and camp ground. The track around Bark Bay inlet passes the DOC Hut and is very scenic, with waterfalls and short swing bridge. It adds only 20 to 30 minutes walking time. Bark Bay to Onetahuti: 4km (2.5 miles) Max elevation 120 m (400 ft) Walk over the Tonga Saddle then descend to Tonga Quarry historic site. Boat pick up is from this beach. The track to Onetahuti leaves from the back of Tonga Quarry. At Onetahuti Toilets and shelter, but no drinking water at the DOC camp ground beside the beach. Tidal crossing half-way along the beach can be above knee height at high tide. At the northern end of the beach, an orange track marker leads to the new bridge and board walk, then the coastal track climbs gently to above the Awaroa inlet. Onetahuti to Awaroa: After the 20 minute uphill section from Onetahuti, the first of two side tracks leads off the main coastal track. 1. Signpost to Awaroa Lodge. Descend (approx 60 m) to the Lodge (approx 1 km). This is the lodge that is not operated by us. 2. Continue approx 1 km from the first junction to a spectacular viewing point over Awaroa to Totaranui. From the view point, the Sky Track, leads down to the grounds of Awaroa Lodge. The track is quite steep and rough. Both these tracks provide a shorter route to Meadowbank Homestead (approx 1 hour less walking time) and include a tidal crossing at the creek at the end of the air strip. If you are within 2 hours of high tide, you can be wading through water over thigh deep. © 2020 Page 5 409 HIGH STREET • MOTUEKA • NELSON • PHONE +64 3 528 2027 • NZ FREEPHONE 0800 223 582 • www.AbelTasman.co.nz High Tide Route: Do not take a turn off to Awaroa Lodge. The track descends to the beach approx. half way between the DOC Hut and Meadowbank Homestead. Low Tide Route: Take one of the tracks to Awaroa To Awaroa Lodge Lodge. Walk to the western end of the air landing Access ramp to Meadowbank strip, and then into the estuary. Cross Venture Creek then walk along the beach to the To DOC Meadowbank Homestead access ramp. Hut Awaroa to Totaranui About 2 hours 30 minutes (7.2 kms, 4½ miles) Maximum elevation 75 m (250 ft) No high tide alternate route across the Awaroa estuary. Your hosts will arrange boat transfer if required. Estuary crossing shoes are essential to walk across the estuary.