Walk the Able Tasman » Travel Generation

Experience the Abel Tasman Coastal Walk for $50NZD

A Day Hike on One of New Zealand’s Great Walks

Each summer, thousands of backpackers and other budget travelers come to New Zealand for a number of reasons – the sun, the beaches, the hiking, or the many landscapes that New Zealand provides – be it the snowcapped mountains, the green rolling hills, dense rainforests, or tropical beaches. One of the many ways to experience these landscapes in New Zealand is on a ‘Great Walk’ – one of nine tramping tracks found around the North and Sound Islands. Be it the Milford Track on the South Island, or the Tongariro Circuit on the North Island, these tracks are inexpensive and rewarding ways to travel New Zealand.

Swing bridges and scenic forests boarded by white sand beaches, the Abel Tasman National Walk is a 'must do' NZ experieince

If you’re planning on doing the multi day hikes, you’ll be required to purchase a Great Walks Pass from local DOC offices. These passes allow the DOC (Department of Conservation) to regulate how many trampers are on any given track at a certain time. They range anywhere from a couple bucks a night to $40 a night depending on what sort of accommodation you require. Overnight stays in huts operated by the DOC are significantly more expensive than stays in your own tent. In the summer months, the tracks get booked solid so it’s essential that you book your walk well in advance.

One of the nine Great Walks is the Abel Tasman Coastal Track on the South Island. It’s one of New Zealand’s most popular tracks and is located only an hours drive away from Nelson in the Abel Tasman National Park. The track takes you through dense rain forests with views of picturesque blue bays and tropical islands, across white sandy beaches, and affords many excellent views. From end to end, the Abel Tasman Coastal Track stretches 51km and can be completed in anywhere from 3 to 5 days, depending on your motivation and level of fitness.

Choose a bay to stop in at for lunch!

If you only want a taster of the track, you have the option of simply doing a day hike. I found this to be a good option as I was without a tent and short on time. It was an excellent walk, and here are my tips on how you can best experience Abel Tasman in a day.

You’ll want to start your trip from Marahau – a small settlement at the southern end of the track and about an hours drive north of Nelson. Water Taxis leave daily from Marahau to various points along the Abel Tasman Track. Your best option is to spend the night in Marahau and catch an early ferry up the coast the next morning. Operating out of Marahau Beach Camp, Marahau Water Taxis will take you north to Bark Bay for $36 one-way. We loaded our water taxi in town and were pulled out to sea by a tractor as it was low tide.

Our water taxi leaving our accommodation

The ride north from Marahau took approximately an hour in calm seas. Our driver did an excellent job of stopping along the way to provide some history on the Abel Tasman National Park. We passed a floating hostel which would be a pretty epic spot to spend the night if you had the time. The taxi dropped us off at Bark Bay, and from here you have a beautiful, 21km walk back south to Marahau. A relatively flat, gravel path allow hikers of all ages and abilities to take in the park’s scenery. The trail was in good condition and many of the day hikers were hiking in their jandals. There were loads of opportunities to get off the track and chill out on the beaches with beautiful white sand. As it was early summer, the water was still quite cold but swimming would still be an option in the calm water.

At low tide the tractor towed us out into the bay before a scenic 1 hour trip along the coast

Much of the track passes through thick tropical rainforest, but you’ll also have periods of time where you’re unprotected from the sun. Considering this, you won’t want to forget to bring your sunscreen. Thanks to hole in the ozone layer, the sun is especially strong in New Zealand. Also, don’t let the potential swarms of the infamous sandflies ruin your walk. While I didn’t encounter many, I can only imagine one of the beaches is named ‘Sandfly Beach’ for a reason. Lastly, if you do hope to spend a couple nights in the bush, be sure to book your accommodation well in advance. The few DOC Huts fill up quickly – you’ll want to bring your tent as a last resort.

On this budget-friendly trip, you can experience Abel Tasman in a day for less than $50. Finish your day at The Fat Tui, a small food trailer tucked under some New Zealand palm trees. This little joint serves up some outstanding fish and chips and may produce one of the best burgers I’ve ever tasted. A well deserved meal after a beautiful days hike.