Plan and prepare ABEL TASMAN COAST TRACK Duration: 3–5 days Great Walks season: Distance: 60 km (one way) All year ABEL ELEVATION PROFILE & TRACK GUIDE Akersten Bay 6 campers Bark Bay Tinline Te Pukatea Bay (Wairima) 30 campers 14 campers 34 bunks TASMAN 80 campers Observation Beach Anchorage Coquille Bay 12 campers 12 campers 34 bunks Rākauroa/ 100 campers Torrent 200 m Watering Cove COAST Apple Tree Bay Bay Village 10 campers Mārahau 30 campers 20 campers 100 m TRACK 0 m 12.4 km / 4 hr 11.5 km / 4 hr Blessed with a mild climate, golden beaches and lush, coastal native bush, the Abel Tasman Coast Track has it all. Located in Abel Tasman National Park on the South Island’s northern shores, this gentle, family-friendly Great Walk showcases the best that the park has to offer. Marvel at naturally-sculptured granite Day 2: Anchorage to Day 1: Mārahau to Anchorage Bark Bay (Wairima) cliffs and crystal-clear waters. Plan an adventure that suits 4 hours, 12.4 km High tide track: your ability and schedule. You 4 hours, 11.5 km You’ll begin your journey as you cross the can hike the whole track, take Low tide crossing: estuary over the Mārahau causeway, and a water taxi or kayak between 3 hours, 8.4 km follow the track, first through open country, certain locations at any time then lush beech forest with large kānuka Rākauroa/Torrent Bay estuary of the year. trees. The track eventually turns inland, can be crossed within 2 hours winding in and out of several little gullies either side of low tide, or you can The Abel Tasman Coast Track before emerging to a view of the beautiful take the all-tide track around can be walked in either direction. Anchorage Bay. Here you’ll descend to it. An impressive 47-metre long The track is well marked and Anchorage Hut and Campsite. suspension bridge takes you signposted, but some sections over Falls River. You’ll then may be steep and rough and meander through lush coastal forest before being led back to the track could be muddy. This the sea and the idyllic golden brochure describes a 5-day hike sands of Bark Bay (Wairima). for independent, non-guided walkers who choose to walk the whole track from Mārahau to Wainui Bay. This track involves one compulsory tidal crossing – consult a tide timetable before booking your trip. Duration: 3–5 days Distance: 60 km (one way) Great Walks season: COVER: Te Pukatea Bay, Darryl Wilson All year ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT: Monster Valley; Shellie Evans (tikitouringnz.blogspot.co.nz) Andy Dennis; photonewzealand.com; Eduardo Villouta Stengl MAIN PHOTO: Tōtaranui, Daniel Deans hut campsite car park water tidal access only crossing Mosquito Bay Water access only 40 campers Tōtaranui Awaroa Great Walk campsite Whariwharangi Bay Tonga Quarry 26 bunks Waiharakeke Bay (one night only) Mutton Cove 20 bunks 36 campers 20 campers 40 campers 40 campers 40 campers Onetahuti Bay Awaroa Anapai Bay 40 campers car park 12 campers Wainui Bay 13.5 km / 4 hr 30 min 7.1 km / 2 hr 20 min 9.8 km / 3 hr 15 min 5.7 km / 2 hr Day 5: Whariwharangi Bay Day 3: Bark Bay (Wairima) to Wainui Bay to Awaroa Day 4: Awaroa to Whariwharangi Bay or Tōtaranui 4 hours 30 minutes, 13.5 km 5 hours 35 minutes (tidal), 16.9 km 2 hours, 5.7 km 3 hours, 9 km Cross the beautiful Bark Bay estuary Awaroa Inlet can only be crossed within 2 hours either side of low tide or follow 1 hour 30 minutes before and 2 hours after low Follow a trickling stream the all-tide track (10 minutes) around tide. Along the track, the scenery alternates and climb above the bay the edge of the estuary. A steep climb between sandy beaches and rocky headlands to a saddle overlooking takes you through stands of mānuka. of regenerating kānuka. Camp or stay in the the serene Wainui Inlet. Return to the coast at Tonga Quarry cosy and historic Whariwharangi Hut At this point you can and it’s a short walk from there to (a former homestead built around 1896) either descend to the car Onetahuti Bay, where one of the just behind the beach. park at Wainui or take a longest beaches in the Abel Tasman left turn onto the Gibbs stretches before you. Cross the channel Hill Track. This will take north of the campsite 4 hr either side you to Tōtaranui where of low tide. As you leave Onetahuti and you can get a water taxi start to descend from Tonga Saddle back to Mārahau. down to Awaroa Inlet, take a non-DOC track to visit the famous Awaroa Beach before returning to the main track. HIGHLIGHTS Air New Zealand partners with the Department of Conservation to help bring native birds back to the beautiful Great Walks. Photo: Rob Suisted (www.naturespic.com) 1 Explore the crystal-clear waters of Tonga Island Marine Reserve. Running Photo: Nick Thompson alongside the Abel Tasman National Park, the marine reserve is a fantastic place to swim, snorkel or kayak. 2 An enticing 20-minute side trip on day two takes you through lush trees to the secluded Cleopatras Pool – a natural rock pool with a moss-lined waterslide fit for a queen! 3 Keep an eye out for fur seals/kekeno found along the coast of the park, particularly on the more remote granite headlands and boulder beaches. Seals are confident and agile swimmers but are more wary when out of the water. Photo: Karin Noresten 4 Take advantage of the region’s sunshine hours and stay next to golden beaches at one of the 18 campsites. Conservation story Project Janszoon is a privately funded trust named after explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman. It is working with DOC, the Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust, local iwi and the community to restore the ecology of the Abel Tasman National Park over a 30-year time frame. As predators and weeds are reduced, native birds like robin and kākāriki and plants like rātā and mistletoe are beginning to flourish again. www.janszoon.org. Photo: photonewzealand.com Separation Point / Te Matau Taupo Hill Great Walk hut Mutton Cove Great Walk campsite PLACES TO STAY Whariwharangi Anatakapau Bay Bay Hut Tasman Bay / Scenic campsite DOC operates 4 huts and 18 Te Tai-o-Aorere Motu Island Shelter Tata Islands campsites along the Abel Tasman Wainui Bay Ngawhiti Island Anapai Bay Toilet – there are also toilets Coast Track, which must be booked at each hut and campsite Tata Bay Campers Takapou Wainui Gibbs Hill Parking in advance all year round. Bay 405m are not permitted to use hut facilities.Takapou Wainui K Low tide crossing a Inlet ik au Awaroa Inlet and S t re Onetahuti beach am Ligar Bay Tōtaranui Great Walk/ Tōtaranui Tramping track m a e tr S Route i u n Anatimo a r ! ! ! a Tarakohe t Walking track ō T Goat Bay 0 1 Km r e v ¯ i R W i a u Centre Peak ih in a a ra W ke ke Str Photo: David Buckton eam Waiharakeke Bay Canoe Bay Great Walks huts Awaroa Beach New Zealand rate Brereton Cove $38 (1 October – 30 April) per adult Non-DOC track per night; 17 years and under free Awaroa H ut Mt. Rollinson (booking required). Awaroa Inlet k Shag Harbour e e Alma Hill r R $32 (1 May – 30 September) per C ic h e r a r u d adult per night; 17 years and under t n s o e n V free (booking required). S t m . Tonga Island International rate Stony Hill Marine Reserve $75 (1 October – 30 April) per r person per night for all ages e Onetahuti Bay v i R Tonga Island (booking required). a o r Tonga Quarry a w $32 (1 May – 30 September) per A Tonga Hill adult per night; 17 years and under 458m H u f f free (booking required). a m S tr e a The huts have bunks, mattresses, m Murray Peak heating, toilets, cold running water Abel Tasman Mosquito Bay and hand-washing facilities. They Access by water only may have a lighting source, and a Bark Bay Hut National Park Medlands Beach DOC ranger may be present. These Pisgah huts do notH ilprovidel cooking facilities, Sandfly Bay cooking utensils, linen or showers. Falls River Bare Knob Great Walks campsites Frenchman Bay New Zealand rate Cascade Falls Boundary Bay $15 per adult per night; 17 years and under free (booking required). Ballon Rock Rākauroa/ Torrent Bay Village Torrent Bay International rate Mount Evans $30 (1 October – 30 April) per The Te Pukatea Cleopatras Anchorage person per night for all ages Pool Bay Anchorage Hut T Anchor Bay (booking required). orrent River $15 (1 May – 30 September) per Watering Cove adult per night, 17 years and under k Observation Beach e re free (booking required). Rata Hill C Cyathea Cove S n i o 582m m ss o Le T n in e Akersten Bay The campsites offer basic facilities l t in C r e e Stilwell Bay Motuareronui/ S e t k Adele Island including toilets and a water supply. re a m M Some also have a sink, picnic tables ār ah au Ri and a cooking shelter. ver Apple Tree Bay Tinline Coquille Bay Fisherman Island (Motuareroiti) Tinline Bay Mārahau To Kaiteriteri, Motueka Sandy Bay WHAT DO I DO NEXT? GETTING THERE Start off at greatwalks.