Abel Tasman Track in Comfort

Trip Type:

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.

Grade & Terrain

Rated easy to moderate, this track has a few elevation gains and losses. It is undulating, although there are some steep sections. You will mainly be walking on beaches, on coastal paths, and through the forest. The terrain can be rough at times but is usually smooth. It is important to note that on this track there are 3 tidal estuaries that need to be crossed. Whilst there are high tide routes at Torrent and Bark Bay these are less fun than the low tide alternatives. At Awaroa Inlet you have no choice but to walk across the estuary. Please see the Availability section for more details on this.

Navigation

The track is well marked and signposted, and if you stick to the main track, there is very little chance of losing your way. This track involves tidal crossings. Our local hosts will provide information on this as you book, as it may require some flexibility with your itinerary, according to the tides. We also provide a track guide and GPX tracks are accessible on the Macs Smartphone App, so you can simply follow the route on your phone if you wish.

• 1 Night in a hotel in Nelson (Spa Studio Room)
• 1 Night at Awaroa Lodge (Superior Room)
• 1 Night in Ratanui Lodge (Luxury Room)
• 2 Breakfasts (at Awaroa Lodge and Ratanui Lodge)
• 3 Packed lunches
• 1 three-course dinner at Ratanui Lodge
• Luggage transportation
• Transfer from Nelson to Marahau and Marahau to Nelson
• Transfer from Totaranui To Ratanui Lodge
• Transfer Ratanui Lodge to Wainui Car Park
• Water taxis from Marahau to Torrent Bay and Totaranui to Marahau
• Information Pack and personalised itinerary
• Access to the Macs Smartphone App with GPS Tracks
• Arrival briefing in Marahau
• 24-7 Emergency telephone support

• Travel insurance (required)
• Travel To & From Nelson
• 1 Breakfast
• 2 Dinners
• Drinks & Snacks
• ETA & IVL requests (mandatory as per 1 Oct 2019)

• Additional nights
• Rental car (if required)

When To Go

The best time of year to walk the Abel Tasman Track is between October and April, during the Spring, Summer, and Autumn/Fall months. This is also when all of the accommodations are open. The weather will be more settled during these times of the year, although it can be unpredictable at any time of year. 

The Abel Tasman Track is one of New Zealand’s 9 Great Walks and therefore is extremely popular. You will have to book quite far in advance in order for us to be successful with confirming the dates you request, especially if you wish to travel at the height of the season which is February and March. (Between Christmas and New Year is also very popular). You can take this tour anywhere between October and April. To avoid disappointment please try to plan your trip well in advance ( at least 6-9 months), if possible.

Since this track has 3 tidal estuaries to cross and the accommodation is limited in one of the areas please bear in mind that when you book our local hosts will check the dates of your tour and may have to adjust your route/itinerary accordingly. For example, your itinerary could be reversed or changed according to the tides or indeed the availability of the accommodation. We will let you know if this is the case.

Getting to the Start

By Air: You can fly into and out of Nelson Airport which is located only 5 miles from central Nelson. There are domestic flights into Nelson from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch Airports.
You can catch a taxi or a shuttle bus to get into Nelson from the airport. The shuttle bus needs to be booked in advance and you can check the following company website in order to arrange this, Jayride. 

A transfer is also included on the final day to either Nelson or Nelson Airport, so you can make your way onward journeys from here. It departs from Marahau at 4:30pm. The journey time to the airport is approximately one hour so depending on traffic you should be arriving at the airport around 5:30pm. Alternatively they can drop you off in central Nelson.

* Please be aware that when booking flights from the UK to New Zealand you will arrive 2 days after you set off and on return you will arrive 1 day after you set off. So, for example, if you leave on a Tuesday you will arrive on a Thursday and on return if you leave on a Saturday you will arrive home on Sunday. This is obviously because of the time it takes to get there but also because you are travelling back and forth across the International Date Line. Similar principles apply when travelling from other places in Europe and from the USA and Canada. Please make sure that when you book you take this into consideration so that you are arriving on the correct day that the tour begins.

Baggage Transfer

Overnight luggage is transferred by boat each day to be at your accommodation when you arrive. The luggage has to be lifted in and out of boats with no jetties around for easy unloading, so, for this reason, we ask our guests to follow the list of required items and pack lightly – aim for a bag weighing around 10kg (20 pounds). Our local partner provides free luggage storage for your extra luggage in Marahau. Special loaner bags for you to use for your overnight gear if required. Duffel bags or small suitcases suitable for carry-on luggage on airplanes are perfect for your Abel Tasman trip if you have them. One of the local staff will drop a loaner bag around to your accommodations along with your information/map pack for your trip if required. 

The loaner bags are 50-litre duffel bags made by Macpac, a well-known outdoor equipment company founded in New Zealand. If you’d like to keep one as a souvenir of your Abel Tasman trip (complete with our company logo embroidered on it) they can be purchased for $80(NZD) each. Please take your luggage with you when you are being transferred to Marahau on Day 2.

Equipment

Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes, and a day pack. There are a couple of places along the track where you’ll be required to cross tidal estuaries and we strongly recommend the use of water shoes (crocs, sports sandals, etc) for these as there are sharp shells and small stones that can cut bare feet.