The Abel Tasman Coast Track is a chance to trade road miles for a slower journey along New Zealand’s coast. Forest trails lead out to sheltered bays, and the sea keeps appearing between the trees. You can get a taste of that landscape on a day walk or spend several days moving from beach to beach. The longer route has one detail that shapes the whole itinerary: the tidal crossing at Awaroa Inlet.
The full track follows Awaroa’s tide
Awaroa Inlet must be crossed in daylight, from 90 minutes before low tide to two hours after. There is no walking route around it at other tide levels, so plan your overnight stops on either side around the crossing. Check the DOC tide table for your date before booking.
Huts and campsites need to be booked in advance year-round. That makes the overnight plan the starting point for a multi-day walk: secure each night, then choose the route and what to carry around those stops. The reward is a string of days with the coast as your companion, rather than a single glimpse from the road.
View in GoExploringChoose a day walk
For a shorter visit, pick a section and let the coast set the pace. Mārahau to Anchorage is about 12 kilometres and takes around four hours one way, a satisfying outing that gives you time to settle into the forest-and-sea rhythm. You can return on foot or take a water taxi, whose departure time will shape how long you spend on the trail. Either way, you can make the walk a point-to-point adventure instead of retracing every step.
Check which beaches your water-taxi serves on the day you plan to visit, and match the departure to your chosen walk. The boat can also make a one-way section possible without retracing your steps.
Adding a kayak trip
Kayaking gives you another way to explore the coast. Guided trips and independent rentals have different experience requirements; check which applies to your outing and whether a walking section is included.
Use the map to picture how the bays and trail sections connect. If your South Island trip also includes Wānaka, our Roys Peak viewpoint and summit guide covers another memorable day outdoors.