The Full 5 Day Track from End-to-End including Comfortable Private Accommodation & Nelson-to-Nelson Transport

 

 

 

Itinerary

Day 1 (4 hours) Marahau to Torrent Bay
We 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 Torrent Bay to Fernbank, a kiwi ‘bach’ (holiday home) where we stay for the night.

Day 2 At Torrent Bay
After breakfast we have a number of options, a short walk to visit the delightful Cleopatra's Pool, a longer walk to the Falls River, an option of a water taxi trip round the Park, or just lazing around reading and swimming. Fernbank has two sit on kayaks for use in the estuary. Once more we stay at Fernbank for the night.

Day 3 (6 hours) Bark Bay to Awaroa
Leaving Torrent Bay, the walk is mainly in the bush with glimpses of the coast, eventually dropping down to Bark Bay. 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 we cross over the low Tonga Saddle and down to the beautiful Awaroa Inlet where we stay at Mortimers Patch, another kiwi bach for the next two nights.

Day 4 At Awaroa
We have a number of options for today. We can go for an adventure into the heart of the Awaroa Estuary to visit an old traction engine, once used for milling the forests in the area, and the lonely forest glade where the Awaroa school once stood. The estuary is a spectacularly beautiful inlet with golden sands, forever changing with the tide. Another option is a kayak trip from Awaroa Lodge (not included in price).

Day 5 (2 hours) Awaroa to Totaranui
The Awaroa Estuary can only be crossed 2 hours either side of low tide, so our departure may be early or late. From the northern side, the track crosses a low saddle before dropping down to Waiharakeke Bay, then through Goat Bay to Totaranui. Here we finish the walk and drive over to Takaka in Golden Bay. Transport is then provided back to Nelson, or you can stay in Golden Bay and visit various sights, including the largest cold-water springs in Australasia - Waikoropupu Springs, Farewell Spit, and maybe some of the local arts and crafts of Golden Bay.

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 luggage
• Souvenir map
• All meals
• Water taxi trip

Notes:

• Fernbank has 3 bedrooms, two with double beds and one with two singles. Mortimers Patch has 4 bedrooms, 3 with double beds and 1 with 3 singles.

• Because we have to make reservations with the holiday homes, we need as much advance notice as possible for this trip.

To help you plan your trip, we offer the following list of what to pack.

• 1 Day pack
• 1 Bag that can withstand being transported by water taxi
• 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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