Best Short Walks in the Abel Tasman National Park

Marahau to Tinline Bay Abel Tasman National Park short walk

Marahau beach, low tide views of gold sands and Sandy Bay

Walk under the entrance archway at Marahau. Let the excitement build as you explore the Abel Tasman for yourself. Your walk to Tinline Bay commences at the Marahau River estuary, a favourite spot for wading birds. Low tide is ideal for twitching (bird spotting). Enjoy the easy walk to Tinline Bay camping ground. The campsite has toilets and a rolling lawn leading to the beach. Tinline Bay camping grounds are not located on the beach rather several metres up the hillside.

Selfie photo location – the lone pine on the Tinline Bay weathered rock is well known insta favourite. The beach is a composite mixture of pebbles, gold sand and rocky outcrops.

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Tinline Bay facilities

15 non-powered/tent sites
Toilets

Forward booking required. Water taxis will collect passengers from Tinline Bay, forward bookings are essential. Minimum numbers will apply.

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Marahau village, located at the southern entrance to Abel Tasman National Park is a convenient base for many visitors. Also known as Abel Tasman Village, Marahau is where the majority of tour transport and activity operators are located.

The lone pine is a favourite insta spot on Tinline Bay

Marahau entrance to Tinline Bay walking route

2.4 km firm easy track
45 minutes from Harvey Road car park

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NOTE

If you continue hiking to Anchorage Bay the distance is approximately 12.4 km (including the short walk to Tinline Bay)

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With campsites and huts dotted along its 60 km length, the Abel Tasman offers visitors options from a multi-day, one-day or half-day adventure. Scroll through Abel Tasman Great Walk, where to camp & short day walks – Best Bits for details about Department of Conservation campsites.

Pitt Head loop walk - a side track from Anchorage Bay

Te Pukatea bay on Pitt Head Loop Trail in Abel Tasman National Park

Wow, find out for yourself why the exquisite jewel, Te Pukatea beach is an Abel Tasman celebrity landscape. Cruise by water taxi to Anchorage then enjoy an easy walk around the Pitt Head Loop Track to Te Pukatea.

Pitt Head Lookout Trail is a glorious short walk to the beautiful crescent shaped Te Pukatae beach. There is a campsite at Te Pukatea beach which is only accessible by either boating in or walking in. There are compostable toilets and water available at the campsite. For booking details check Te Pukatea Bay campsite.

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This is a very popular walk, and expect to meet fellow outdoor enthusiasts while on the trail. You will return on the loop track to Anchorage Bay. Anchorage Bay has compostable toilets, water supply.

A walk viewpoint walking towards Torrent Bay

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For active walkers to the north of Anchorage, across a tidal estuary, lies Torrent Bay. During low tides, you can walk directly across the estuary to Torrent Bay in about 20 minutes and to Cleopatra’s pool in about an hour. The high-tide Abel Tasman track goes around the estuary and takes around 1 to 1.5 hours.

Anchorage Bay - Cleopatra's Pool short walk

Cleopatra's pool closeup

Want a bite of natural paradise in the Abel Tasman National Park? Your destination could be a forest pool with its intriguing rock slide, Cleopatra’s Pool. Enjoy the day exploring Abel Tasman with the promise of late afternoon on the gold sandy beach as you wait for a water taxi pickup.

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Carry water; do not drink unfiltered river water.

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The boat ride is usually 45 minutes to an hour with the scenic journey setting you into the natural rhythms of Abel Tasman. Remember to apply sandfly (insect repellent) lotion before starting the walk. Abel Tasman National Park has wide well-maintained trails and is very well signposted. There are no shops in the National Park.

TORRENT BAY TO (MEDLANDS BEACH) BARK BAY

Maori chief Te Atiawa tattoed face is a significant landmark in the Abel Tasman National Park

Dramatic headlands, breathtaking scenic beaches and a cove with a gold sandy beach. Medlands Cove (beach) is a 20 minute walk from Bark Bay. Adjacent to Bark Bay is the popular kayaking destination Tonga Island Marine Reserve. Bark Bay/Wairima is a beautiful tidal estuary and beach along the coastal track.

Medlands beach lookout point with its dramatic Maori carving of Chief Te Atiawa. Stroll 10 minutes from Bark Bay beach to view the spectacular viewing platform overlooking Medlands beach
Suspension bridge 5 metres in height, 47 metres in length
Sheltered Bark Bay campgrounds with toilets, picnic tables, filtered water, and flushing toilets
Beautiful tidal estuary with ribbons of gold sand interspersed with crystal clear water
Listen for the sounds of the forest with kaka (native birds) prolific in the area
Torrent Bay to Bark Bay (Medlands beach) and Fall River Suspension Bridge excursions

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For active walkers: enjoy stretching the legs and enjoy the sight of Bark Bay Falls

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Catch a water taxi from your starting point and cruise back to your accommodation at the end of the day from either Bark Bay or Torrent Bay.

PIONEER TRAIL AWAROA BAY TO ONETAHUTI BEACH

Awaroa beach

The People’s Beach, purchased by crowdfunding Awaroa won the heart of a nation and kiwis responded. See for yourself why kiwis wanted Awaroa Beach to remain in public hands. Become entranced by the shallow water’s saturated blue hues. The landscape is enhanced with ribbons of gold white sand and surrounding hills lush vegetation.

Walk in the footsteps of Maori and European settlers
Enjoy a boardwalk and bridge leading from the lush forest to the gleaming gold sand of Onetahuti beach (southward Abel Tasman journey)
Awaroa to Onetahuni is a relaxed short walk suitable for most fitness levels (approximately 1 hour). This walk can be reversed Onetahuti beach to Awaroa (northward direction)

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For active walkers there is a longer option of a start at Bark Bay for a 3 hour walk to Awaroa and then onwards to Onetahuti Beach.

INTERESTING FACT NOTE AFFILIATE PARTNER STATEMENT

Please note:

Weather events can create a wet-foot high tide crossing in the centre of Onetahuti Beach. Check the tides before booking this option. Click here for Department of Conservation Tide Tables.

Awaroa Inlet can only be crossed within 1 hour 30 minutes before and 2 hours after low tide under normal conditions. However, this period can be affected by factors such as tide heights, storm surges and heavy rain. It is only safe to cross the inlet in daylight. Allow 25 minutes to cross.

Source: DOC online resource

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Let’s relax and savour the taste of Nelson’s finest produce at Awaroa Lodge, contemporary 4 star accommodation nestled within the Abel Tasman National Park. Al Fresco dining in the national park, awesome.

Onetahuti beach aerial view

TOTARANUI BEACH – PUKATEA WALK

Totaranui Camping ground

Totaranui is a haven for water lovers with estuary water (tidal) offers kids a safe place to swim and paddle. The crystal clear water is ideal for trying out snorkeling equipment. Tōtaranui campground is surrounded by several short walks.

Enjoy a stroll through kānuka/gorse shrubland typical of local abandoned farmland. Follow a meandering boardwalk through a raupo (flax) swamp, then a dry ridge forest of beech trees, and on into magnificent pukatea forest with glades of tall nīkau palms and the occasional massive rātā trees and tall black mamaku treeferns. Return on the same trail.

Length: 0.8 km

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Totaranui (campsite) to Anapai Bay

is another favourite short walk

Anapai Beach view

Walkers will be rewarded with breathtaking views of Golden Bay to Farewell Spit and across the Tasman Sea to D’Urville Island. At Separation Point is a resident fur seal colony as well as plenty of marine birds

For active walkers take the side track to Separation Point. It is a steep, but short walk. Return on the same track to the main trail. Separation Point marks the boundary between Golden Bay and Tasman Bay. You rejoin the main track returning on the same path. Separation Point Track, rejoins the main trail just before Whariwharangi.

Totaranui campsite to Separation Point & Whariwharangi

A deserted, quiet beach in Whariwharangi bay

WHARIWHARANGI BAY – RESTORED FARM HOMESTEAD & CAMPSITE.

Leave the coast at Mutton Cove and climb to another saddle. From here the track descends to Whariwharangi Bay. The hut – a restored farm homestead – and campsite are just behind the beach.

INTERESTING FACT NOTE AFFILIATE PARTNER STATEMENT

NOTE:

There are a number of walks commencing from Totaranui beach, check here Tōtaranui walks: Abel Tasman National Park, Nelson/Tasman region for details.

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9.8 km Totaranui campsite to Separation Point trail, Whariwharangi is another 1 km (one way)

Walkers will be climbing two saddles and travelling between sandy gold beaches, regenerating forest and rocky headlands.

Abel Tasman scenic aerial view

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Check Abel Tasman travel guide and Nelson travel for what to do nearby the Abel Tasman National Park. Find out more fascinating Nelson walks, in TOP-10 Nelson short walks, trip guide, things to see & do

From/To	Walking Time	Distance
Marahau to Anchorage Hut	3.5hrs	12.4km
Anchorage Hut to Torrent Bay
– High tide route	1.25hrs	4.0km
– Low tide route	20mins	0.9km
Torrent Bay to Bark Bay	2.5hrs	7.8km
Bark Bay to Onetahuti	2hrs	6.1km
Onetahuti to Awaroa Hut	2.5hrs	7.1km
Awaroa Hut to Totaranui	2.5hrs	7.1km
Totaranui to Whariwharangi	3.25hrs	9.8km