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 TASMAN 3 campsites Tinline Te Pukatea Bay Bark Bay 15 campsites 7 campsites 34 bunks Observation Beach 40 campsites Coquille Bay Anchorage COAST 6 campsites 34 bunks 6 campsites 50 campsites Torrent 200 m Watering Cove Apple Tree Bay Bay Village 5 campsites Marahau 15 campsites 10 campsites TRACK 100 m 0 m Blessed with a mild climate, 12.4 km / 4 hr 11.5 km / 4 hr 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: cliffs and crystal-clear waters. Day 1: Marahau to Anchorage Anchorage to Bark Bay Plan an adventure that suits your ability and schedule. You 4 hours, 12.4 km High tide track: 4 hours, 11.5 km can hike the whole track, take You’ll begin your journey as you cross the Low tide crossing: a water taxi or kayak between estuary over the Marahau causeway, and 3 hours, 8.4 km different locations at any time follow the track, first through open country, of the year. then lush beech forest with large kānuka Torrent Bay estuary can be trees. The track eventually turns inland, crossed within 2 hours either winding in and out of several little gullies side of low tide, or you can The Abel Tasman Coast Track can before emerging to a view of the beautiful take the all-tide track around be walked in either direction. The Anchorage Bay. Here you’ll descend to it. An impressive 47-metre long track is well marked and signposted, Anchorage Hut and Campsite. suspension bridge takes you but some sections may be steep and over Falls River. You’ll then rough and the track could be muddy. meander through lush coastal This guide describes a 5-day hike for forest before being led back to independent, non-guided walkers the sea and the idyllic golden who choose to walk the whole track sands of Bark Bay. from Marahau 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: All year greatwalks.co.nz 0800 694 732 water tidal hut campsite car park access only crossing Mosquito Bay 20 campsites Tonga Quarry Awaroa Whariwharangi Bay 10 campsites 26 bunks Waiharakeke Bay Totaranui Mutton Cove 20 bunks 18 campsites 10 campsites 20 campsites 20 campsites 20 campsites Onetahuti Bay Awaroa Anapai Bay 20 campsites car park 6 campsites 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 to Wainui Bay Day 3: Bark Bay to Awaroa Day 4: Awaroa to Whariwharangi Bay or Totaranui 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 1 hour 2 hours either side of low tide or follow 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 (a At this point you can and it’s a short walk from there to former homestead built around 1896) just either descend to the car Onetahuti Bay, where one of the behind the beach. park at Wainui or take a longest beaches in the Abel Tasman left turn onto the Gibbs stretches before you. As you leave Hill Track. This will take Onetahuti and start to descend from you to Totaranui where Tonga Saddle down to Awaroa Inlet, you can get a water taxi take a non-DOC track to visit the back to Marahau. famous Awaroa Beach before returning to the main track. COVER: Te Pukatea Bay, Darryl Wilson ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT: Monster Valley; Shellie Evans (tikitouringnz.blogspot.co.nz) Andy Dennis; photonewzealand.com; Eduardo Villouta Stengl MAIN PHOTO: Totaranui, Daniel Deans 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 alongside the Abel Tasman National Park, the marine reserve is a fantastic Photo: Nick Thompson 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 19 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 greatwalks.co.nz 0800 694 732 GETTING THERE The track is accessible by road at the following locations, each with a car park: Sign me up! What do I do? Marahau, 67 km from Nelson 0 25 50 km Wainui, 21 km from Takaka (unsealed for 2 km) Totaranui, 32 km from Takaka (unsealed for 12 km) Start off at greatwalks.co.nz/ 1 abeltasman for more information. ABEL TASMAN Water taxis operate year COAST TRACK round from Marahau and Kaiteriteri, and can transport Takaka you to and from several locations along the track. HEAPHY TRACK Consult tide timetables and Refer over page for Kaiteriteri 2 book your huts and campsites transport options Motueka online or at a DOC Visitor Centre. and services. Karamea NELSON Nelson Picton Visitor Centre Wakefield Book your transport to and from 3 the track – operators are listed BLENHEIM online and in this brochure. Westport Murchison PLACES TO STAY St Arnaud Rotoiti/Nelson Lakes Buy your food and pack your Visitor Centre 4 bags – download the Great Walks packing list and make sure you have everything you need for a 4 – 5 day Punakaiki Reefton independent unguided hike. Paparoa National Park Visitor Centre Kaikoura Greymouth Read up on safety and make Hanmer Springs 5 sure you’re well prepared for your journey and changeable weather Kumara at greatwalks.co.nz/abeltasman. Make sure you have left your Hokitika Photo: David Buckton intentions with a trusted contact at adventuresmart.org.nz. DOC operates 4 huts and 19 campsites along the Abel Tasman Coast Track, which must be bookedArthur’s Passin advance National all year round. Campers are not permitted Park Visitor Centre to use hut facilities. Great Walks huts 6 Check the weather, and make sure $32 (1 May – 30 September) per adult per night; 17 years and you’ve printed your ticket and official track guide. You can also under free (booking required). Oxford Rangiora pick up a tide timetable, track guide $38 (1 October – 30 April) per adult per night; 17Kaiapoi years and Franz Josef/Waiau and get the latest weather updates Westland Tai Poutini under free (booking required). National Park Visitor Centre from the Nelson Visitor Centre, and The huts have bunks, mattresses, heating, toilets,CHRISTCHURCH cold running water download the Abel Tasman National and hand-washing facilities. They may have a lightingŌtautahi/Christchurch source, and Visitor Centre Park app at janszoon.org. a DOC rangerMethven may be present. These huts do not provide cooking facilities, cooking utensils, linen or showers. Aoraki/Mount Cook Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park Akaroa Visitor Centre Great Walks campsites Haast ASHBURTON All set! Lace up your boots Awarua/Haast Visitor Centre $15 per adult per night; 17 years and under free (booking required). 7 and get hiking. Don’t forget to The campsites offer basic facilities including toilets, sinks and a water share your experience on Geraldine facebook.com/GreatWalks. Fairlie supply. Some also have picnic tables and cooking shelters. Temuka Twizel Makaroa TIMARU ROUTEBURN TRACK Wanaka Kurow Waimate Milford Sound Tititea/Mount Aspiring National Park Visitor Centre Arrowtown MILFORD TRACK Cromwell QUEENSTOWN OAMARU Whakatipu-wai-Māori/ Ranfurly Queenstown Visitor Centre Clyde Alexandra KEPLER TRACK Palmerston Te Anau Te Rua-o-te-moko/Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre Waikouaiti Mossburn Lumsden DUNEDIN Fairfield Ōtepoti/Dunedin Visitor Centre Dipton GORE Milton Winton Mataura Balclutha Kaka Point Riverton/ Aparima INVERCARGILL RAKIURA TRACK Oban Stewart Island/ Rakiura National Park Rakiura Visitor Centre Daily scheduled service/s GOLDEN BAY COACHLINES between October and April. Bookings essential. email: [email protected] We offer Private Charters on phone: +64 (03) 525 8352 request all year round.