We
take three leisurely days to cover the essence of the track
from Marahau to Awaroa.
Accommodation is in the Department
of Conservation huts with guaranteed bed space, and if huts
are full, or if you prefer, we will camp. We supply and organise
the tents. Walks are available all year round.
We use the water
taxi service to carry the packs and food, so all you carry
is a daypack.
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Itinerary
Day 1 (4 hours) Marahau
to Anchorage
Depart Nelson and drive across the Waimea Plains, through Motueka,
arriving at Marahau at the start of the Abel Tasman Track. From the
car park, the track crosses a causeway and passes gradually from dry
bracken ridges to an area of beautifully bushed gullies and headlands
with ever changing views of the Astrolabe Roadstead and Adele Island.
A small climb and then the track drops down to beautiful Anchorage
Bay where we stay the night on the Aquapacker boat.
Day 2 (4 hours) Anchorage
to Bark Bay
After breakfast we cross the estuary if it is low tide, or take the
longer bush route if the tide is in. There is a short diversion to
visit the delightful Cleopatra's Pool, and then we return to the main
track. The walk here is mainly in the bush with glimpses of the coast,
eventually dropping down to Bark Bay Hut (30 bunks) for the night.
Day 3 (4 hours) Bark Bay
to Awaroa
We cross Bark Bay estuary, or follow the bush route if the tide is
in, then climb steeply to a saddle, far from the sounds of the sea.
We return to the shore at Tonga Quarry with views of Tonga Island
then on to Onetahuti Beach, where once again the route is affected
by the tides. Then over the Tonga Saddle and down to the beautiful
Awaroa Lodge for a plunger coffee with croissant or nachos, before
we are picked up by the Water Taxi at 3.00pm to be delivered back
to Marahau and our return to Motueka or Nelson.
Grade: Easy
Price Includes:
• Meeting you in Nelson or Motueka
• Transport to and from the track
• The services of a trained and experienced guide
• We supply, carry and cook the food
• You only carry a day pack
• Transportation of sleeping bag and clothes
• Hut passes and bookings
• Water taxi trip
• Souvenir map
To help you plan your trip, we offer the following
list of what to pack.
• 1 Pack of suitable size
• 1 Plastic inner pack liner
• 1 Good quality sleeping bag in a plastic bag
• 1 Good quality weatherproof jacket
• 1 Pair of tramping boots (lightweight recommended)
• 1 Pair of lightweight sandals or Crocs for evenings
• 1 Pair trousers or sweat pants for evenings
• Spare underwear
• 1 Hiking shorts (non denim)
• Spare shirts
• 1 Woollen jersey or polarfleece
• Spare socks
• 1 Warm hat in winter
• 1 Cool hat in summer
• Swimwear
• 1 Plastic bag for clothes
• 1 Toilet gear and towel
• 1 Sunblock
• 1 Sandfly lotion
• 1 One Litre drink bottle
• 1 Camera
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