Kiwi Adventures Blog: Marahau, Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand

We based ourselves at Marahau which is the closest enclave by road to the Abel Tasman National Park and we used it as our camp base for the week staying at Abel Tasman Centre Campsite (pitch 21 for the record) using the water taxis to get about and booking guided trips.

Camping for 6 nights was made easier by our tent being as large as a small castle with multiple rooms and height to stand full upright and stretch plus airbeds. We know how to rough it.

The first night got a bit chilly but with a quick upgrade in sleeping bag we were soon on track. One of our main aims apart from rest was to get around the park and do do some kayaking and walking. For the kayaking we did a few days of 'Half Day Blasts' which were guided sea kayak trips from Marahau to Watering Cover via either Adele Island (named after the explorer D'Urvlles wife in 1827) or Fisherman Island. Both being mammal free reserves where the bird life chirps happily.

The tide rises and fall some 4 meters so goes out a long way and exposes sand banks that the water taxis and kayaks have to use tractors to traverse. The taxis do a bit of added value by doing some sight seeing on route. The most popular sight is the split Apple Rock, which you may guess yourself what it looks like but see photo below if not.

As the first kayak trip with Roy our guide was a high tide we could do a rare start from the Marahau River paddling down to the ocean. We paddled around coves and across to Fishermans Island, a bird sanctuary, where there were adult and baby seals to chat to as well as many birds. We explored caves and enjoyed juice and biscuits on beautiful beaches whilst watching the more adventurous jump off high rocks. We even did a spot of fishing on the way home, fabulous fun!

On the second trip our party was smaller and we visited many small caves and tunnels which you were able to go into or through with the kayak as we had high tide with low swells. We also did 2 walking trips of the Abel Tasman Coast Track. The first we set off by water taxi to Torrent Bay and then a 3.5 hours walk to Bark Bay. This is a very popular walk as it is both in the middle of the park, has a swing bridge mid way and is also walked in both directions. You will be lucky not to see someone every 10 minutes but everyone seems very jolly and say a hearty hello on passing. The second walk we did was from Torrent Bay back to Marahau. This at high tide is a much longer walk as you have to pass around a lagoon and took us about 5 hours including stops at Cleopatra's Pool, Akrastan Bay and Apple Tree Bay. It was an easy walk, nonetheless quite hot and long. Amazingly many people do believe that the correct attire is to wear their flip flops, skimpy clothes and to carry no water while others were admittedly kitted out for Everest. We believe we hit the mid point of normality ourselves and eventually waddled into the pizza cafe and pub to rest our weary legs to end.

When we arrived at the start of the holiday the sand flies (who bit like hell) were not present but they popped up with a vengence in the last couple of days and nibbled away. Many are now nuked and dead.

Anyway, a very enjoyable weeks adventure !