Top rated
New Zealand
8 Hours
Abel Tasman Tours: Cruise, Kayak or Walk the Coast Track
4 options · from $109 AUD
- You don't pay for a spot we can't confirm
- Price Match Promise
- Secure checkout
Abel Tasman tours come in four flavours, and picking the right one is mostly a question of how much you want to paddle. The park sits at the top of the South Island, New Zealand's sunniest corner: golden beaches, granite headlands and water in colours that look edited. Most trips leave from Kaiteriteri, near Motueka and Nelson.
Top rated
New Zealand
7 Hours, 30 Minutes
Top rated
New Zealand
3 Days
Secure checkout
New Zealand
2 Days, 1 Night
Abel Tasman Two Day Kayak Classic
4.5 (657 · TripAdvisor)
All meals included
From
$739 AUD
≈ $370/day
What an Abel Tasman day is actually like
Everything starts on the water. Sea shuttles run the length of the park, so even the walking options involve a boat drop at one beach and a pickup from another. On the Awaroa Ambience cruise you leave Kaiteriteri at 9:00am, pass Split Apple Rock and a fur seal colony, and land at Awaroa around 10:30am, a beach so deep in the park that most day-trippers never reach it. Then swim, laze, eat at Awaroa Lodge and Cafe (open October to April), or walk the 1 hour 45 minute track to Tonga Quarry before pickup.
The kayak trips put you at paddle height. Beaches, Bays & Seals cruises you to Torrent Bay, then runs a guided paddle in stable double kayaks through coves to a beach picnic, and on to the fur seals of Pinnacle Island if the weather plays along.
Which Abel Tasman tour is right for you
Awaroa Ambience, Abel Tasman Cruise, from $109. The low-effort way into the park. Eight hours, exertion dialled to taste, and family-friendly: under-15s are discounted and under-5s cruise free.
Beaches, Bays & Seals, from $260. The signature day, pairing the cruise with a guided paddle at a maximum of eight guests per guide, all gear included. Pre-order the NZ$30 picnic or buy food onboard, and note the NZ$14 environmental access fee at checkout. Best if you want seals and kayaking in one day without camping.
Abel Tasman 3 Day Passport, from $259. For walkers who want most of the Coast Track without a tent or a heavy pack. Sea shuttles drop you at a different section each morning and you're back in your own bed each night. Free bus transfers from Motueka for the 9:00am sailings; Nelson transfers cost extra.
Abel Tasman Two Day Kayak Classic, from $739. The real overnight version: two days of guided sea kayaking, a beachside campsite with tents, mattresses and sleeping bags, and a guide who cooks every meal. Transport to the park is a separate add-on. Best if you're short on time but want the park properly.
Know before you go
Season: the Awaroa cafe and the 1:00pm pickup only run October to April (the 2:45pm boat runs year-round), and summer is when the water is friendliest for swimming. In the cooler months the kayak operators hand out gloves and booties.
What to bring: sunscreen, a hat, swimmers, a towel and more water than you think. The 3 Day Passport sells snacks on every boat, but pack a proper lunch for the walking days.
Safety: the seal leg is weather permitting, so keep a spare day in Nelson or Motueka in case a trip moves. Tides decide pickup points on the walking passport, so listen to the skipper and don't miss the last boat.
Abel Tasman tours: your questions
Do I need to be fit to kayak Abel Tasman?
No. Both kayak trips use stable double kayaks and start with a safety briefing, and Beaches, Bays & Seals keeps it to a maximum of eight paddlers per guide. If you'd rather not paddle, the Awaroa cruise gets you deep into the park with zero effort.
Can I walk the Abel Tasman Coast Track without camping?
Yes. The 3 Day Passport splits the track into three separate day walks with sea shuttle drops and pickups, so you sleep in your own bed each night.
Where do Abel Tasman tours leave from?
Kaiteriteri for the Awaroa cruise and the Beaches, Bays & Seals day. The 3 Day Passport includes free bus transfers from Motueka for the 9:00am sailings; the Two Day Kayak Classic sells park transport as an add-on.
Will I see seals in Abel Tasman?
Very likely. The Awaroa cruise passes a New Zealand fur seal colony, and the kayak day heads for the fur seals of Pinnacle Island, weather permitting.