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Abel Tasman in 1 day | Best Routes and Tours
Abel Tasman National Park looks like a little tropical paradise on the South Island of New Zealand, more famous for its mountains than its beaches. You can only Access on foot or by boat and as you walk through it you find wooded trails that connect different golden sand beaches with crystal clear waters. There are Different ways to visit Abel Tasman in 1 dayKeep reading and we'll tell you which are the 5 best!
What to see in Abel Tasman in 1 day
Abel Tasman was one of our favorite stops when touring New Zealand, as we did not expect to find this type of almost paradisiacal landscapes and that the route would be so pleasant and not very crowded. In fact, this National Park is home to one of the 10 Great Walks of New Zealand, the route lasts 3 to 5 days and crosses the entire National Park through a path that runs along the coast.
If you are going to visit Abel Tasman in 1 day like us You should know that there are several options for exploring it and that the perfect choice will depend on your preferences and budget.
Better routes and tours to visit Abel Tasman in 1 day
Before telling you more about each one, we leave you a summary of the best options and our favorites are marked with a star.
- Round trip walking tour (free option)
- Round trip boat taxi on foot. See price ⭐
- Combined Kayak + Hiking. See price ⭐
- Kayak rental for 1 day. See price
- Combined Boat + Hiking. See price ⭐
- Panoramic boat route. See price
1. Round trip walking route from Marahau
This is one of the most flexible alternatives to visit Abel Tasman in 1 day, and the only free option. The route starts in the parking lot Abel Tasman DOC Carpark located at the gates of the National Park. Once here a waharoa Maori (carved door) indicates the start of the route.
The most common stretch is to go to Anchorage Bay and visit Pitt Head lookout. Most take the opportunity to take a break on the beach and then head back.
Distance: 24km
Time: 6-8 hours
Elevation: + 350
Difficulty: Moderate (due to distance)
2. Taxi Boat + Walking route
This was the option we chose. It consists of hiring a taxi boats leaving from Marahau beach. The boat takes you to the chosen point within the National Park and upon disembarkingcar You begin the return journey to Marahau at your own pace.
In the last ten years, being taxi boats leaves at 9 in the morning and the trip costs between NZ$50 and NZ$60 depending on the distance. It is a nice trip along the coast and also takes you to Adele Island where a small colony of seals lives.
We leave you the information of the two most popular routes. We did the first one, hiring the taxi boats to Bark Bay.
Are you a mountain lover? Here you have what for us were the best hiking trails in New Zealand.
⚠️ Please note that at high tide The routes are 2-3km longer because you cannot take the "shortcut" across Torrent Bay beach, so you have to go around it.
▶ Bark Bay → Marahau
Distance: 22km
Time: 6-8 hours
Elevation: + 850
Difficulty: Moderate
▶ Torrent Bay → Marahau
Distance: 16km
Time: 6-8 hours
Elevation: + 900
Difficulty: Moderate
3. Abel Tasman Kayaking Route + Hiking
Make walking route with kayak sectionsit's a perfect combination to enjoy a very complete day. There are different options, all of them are guided routes but not the whole group has to go together.
One of the options starts with the Kayaking to Observation Beach or Anchorage Bay, one of the best beaches to see in Abel Tasman. Once there, you leave the kayak, put on your shoes and start walking back.
On another tour is leaving in Taxi boat to Torrent Bay, there begins the walk until you reach Bark Bay beach where you eat and wait for the whole group to arrive. Then the taxi boat picks you up to go to Observation Beach to do another stretch by kayak to Marahau.
Rent a kayak in Marahau is another alternative to get to know Abel Tasman, especially if the sea is calm. But the distances are quite long so We would recommend combining it more with hiking.
4. Boat tour to visit Abel Tasman in 1 day + Hiking
This is the quieter alternative to get to know Abel Tasman without giving up walking some sections of this famous Great Walk. The activity combines scenic stretches while the coast is traveled in a boat.
One of the main advantages of this option is that you can choose how much distance you want to walkThere are 3 options; 7km, 9km or 10,5km. These are done in different sections, the boat stops at different places and waits at the next one.
5. Panoramic boat tour
This last alternative allows you see the landscapes from the boat, an panoramic cruise of 4 hours that also makes a small stop at the Kaiteriteri Beach. An ideal activity for those who cannot or do not want to hike Abel Tasman without giving up seeing its landscapes.
Where to sleep in Abel Tasman
The area around Abel Tasman is quite touristy and there are a large number of campsites and hotels where you could spend the night both before visiting Abel Tasman and after completing the route.
If you travel by car, it would be best to stay near the park entrance, for example in the Marahau Beach Camp which is one of the most economical options in the area and has very good reviews.
In case of traveling in camper van or carcarhavana The nearest free campsites are about 20 minutes away in the town of Motueka. There are several private campsites around Marahau. ▶ New Zealand Camping Guide
What to keep in mind before visiting Abel Tasman in 1 day
Before touring Abel Tasman in 1 day you should keep these tips in mind:
- Choose an option according to your physical conditionSome routes may be long or involvedcar considerable physical effort both on foot and in a kayak.
- Try to visit on a sunny day, the color of the sea is much more beautiful and the experience is much better.
- Usa appropriate clothing, sun protection, there are quite a few stretches without shade. And suitable footwear.
- Load sufficient food and water, There are no shops, restaurants or drinking water sources along the route.
- Guarda a swimsuit in your backpack, it is very possible that you will not be able to resist trying out some of the beaches you pass by.
- Check the tide times, in Torrent Bay you can save a few kilometers crossing the bay at low tide.
We hope you enjoy the route and all the beaches. What to see in Abel Tasman, a unique natural environment on the South Island of New Zealand. If you have any questions or recommendations, we'll read them in the comments! And to continue preparing your trip, you can read our other articles on travel to new zealand.
