Abel Tasman National Park is a beautiful park in the north of the South Island of New Zealand. It is a unique piece of nature in New Zealand because, unlike most of the South Island, it has a tropical environment with beautiful sandy beaches and clear waters that will have you thinking you’re in a tropical paradise. The national park is a must-visit if you are driving between the north and south islands, given that it is only 3 hours from Picton, the location of the ferry across the Cook Strait and one hour from Nelson, the largest town in this part of New Zealand. This park is also incredibly approachable to anyone, especially if you understand how the park should be explored. So let’s take you through everything you may need to know about the various things to do in Abel Tasman National Park.
Getting Access into Abel Tasman National Park
Because of where Abel Tasman National Park is located along the coast of New Zealand, it is not fully accessible by car. The main access into the park is in Marahau to the south of the park. Marahau is where you can find the restaurants, shops, and van campgrounds. It is also where the water taxis depart from to get to different coastal parts of the national park.
The water taxis have several scheduled departures to go into the park every day. They also allow you to purchase one way tickets to different destinations so you have flexibility with where you want to explore and the things to do in Abel Tasman. For example, you can take a water taxi to one part of the park, hike to another point, and take a water taxi back to Marahau from that new point.
The other option for getting into the park is to hike from Marahau. While you will have limits to how much of the park you can explore in just one day, you will not be restricted by the departure schedule of the water taxis. Finally, you can look to spend more than one day in the park, either by camping at the different campgrounds around the park or staying at the huts that line the coast. One of the “Great Walks of New Zealand” is one of the major things to do in Abel Tasman National Park and takes 3-5 days to walk the 37 miles (60 kilometers). You can park at one end of the walk and reserve a shuttle to take you from the end of your walk back to the starting point. This is one of the flatter great walks and a good one to consider if you are new to multiday hiking.
As you walk through the park, you will see beach homes. The national park was inhabited prior to its establishment as a protected area and the houses have remained over the decades. (Actually, this area has been inhabited by the indigenous Māori people for over 700 years). These people also have to access their homes by boat or by helicopter!
Using Water Taxis to Explore Abel Tasman National Park
From Marahua, the main way to explore deeper into Abel Tasman National Park is to use a water taxi service. The main hikes around Abel Tasman National Park are all along the coast so the water taxi can drop you off at different places along the coastal track to allow you to explore the different hidden beaches and landscapes. Their one-way services allow you to have flexibility to walk to different portions of the park, getting dropped off at one beach and picked up at another to maximize your day in the park.
The main water taxi companies within Abel Tasman National Park are Abel Tasman AquaTaxi and Marahau Water Taxi. In reality, these two companies are one and the same so it does not make a difference which company you choose to go with to explore the national park. For many of the water taxis that are not part of a kayak tour, you will visit the Split Apple Rock by boat, one of the unique rock formations located just outside of Marahua.
Combining Water Taxi, Hiking, and Kayaking to Maximize Your Exploration of Abel Tasman National Park
Not only can you use water taxis to get further into the park on a day trip, you can also add on a kayak tour to get a unique viewpoint of the national park. Because Abel Tasman National Park is a coastal park, the marine life and access is just as valuable as the land experience. You can pair guided kayak tours with hikes or water taxis to get an even deeper and more enriching experience within the park.
Because you can use the water taxis to maximize your exploration of the park, here are a few options that you can consider for a one day experience within Abel Tasman National Park:
Water Taxi and Hike Options
The Abel Tasman AquaTaxi website has a variety of hike and taxi options but here are some that you can consider that would allow you to discover a variety of different pieces of the park. Neither of these walks overlap so you can do each of these options on different days to see a variety of portions of the park.
Water Taxi to Anchorage > Walk from Anchorage to Marahau
Walk is up to 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) and takes around 4.5 hours. Throughout the walk you will have the opportunity to walk down to various viewpoints and bays including Pitt Head Lookout, Observation Beach, Apple Tree Bay, and more.
Water Taxi to Bark Bay > Walk to Anchorage > water taxi to Marahau
Walk is 5.5 miles (8.9 kilometers) in low tide and 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) in high tide. The walk will take between 2-3.5 hours. You can also do this walk in the opposite direction. Consider the time of the tide level so you can plan the direction of your walk accordingly. The beaches at either end of the walk are wonderful places to hop in the water and cool off.
Water Taxi to Bark Bay > Walk to Awaroa > water taxi to Marahau
Walk is up to 8.5 miles (13.5 kilometers) and takes around 4 hours.
Water Taxi, Hike, and Kayak Options
Adding in kayaking as part of your day within Abel Tasman National Park adds an additional activity and viewpoint for your experience in the park. And this is the perfect park to kayak through since the water and coastline is such a vital part of the landscape.
A Sample Itinerary for 2 Days in Abel Tasman National Park
We recommend spending two days in Abel Tasman National Park to explore different portions of the park and have the opportunity to take advantage of the beautiful beaches and turquoise waters throughout the park.
Day 1
Do one of the taxi + hike options, such as water taxi to Anchorage and walk back to Marahau. After your hike, drive over to Split Apple Rock to see it from the beach and take photos at sunset.
Day 2
Read More About the Blueprint Travelers' Personal Experience in Abel Tasman National Park
Update 58: Enjoying Abel Tasman National Park’s Coasts and the Marlborough Wine Region
We hiked and kayaked through the Abel Tasman National Park coastlines then celebrated the end of our South Island road trip in Marlborough.