The Abel Tasman National Park and Trail Guide - South Island, New Zealand Holiday Guide

We "tramped" or as we say walked several parts of New Zealand's Abel Tasman Trail and visited Farewell Spit and the Pupu Springs and it's excellent Walkway whilst on Holiday.

The Abel Tasman Tramping Trail on South Island is one of the best walking areas we have ever used - the scenery which is semi-tropical plus the scenic rocks and streams and bridges make this a must do walk even if you can only do one section.

The 51km long Abel Tasman coastal tramping trail is located in the Abel Tasman National Park and runs from Marahau to Wainui Bay and is easily the most beautiful and scenic walking areas we have ever been on. The track goes over 4 estuaries which are only able to be crossed at low tide. One huge bonus with this trail is that you do not have to commit yourself to walking the entire length which means 4 or so days camping in huts. Barks Bay to Anchorage section Abel Tasman New Zealand Goat Bay on the Abel Tasman Track Pupu Walkway - western Abel Tasman Instead you can get a water taxi out to various parts of the track, walk a section and be picked up at the end of the walk. Generally speaking the track is in excellent condition - and apart from having perhaps a steep climb out of beach the track stays reasonably flat for most of the time. The foliage - trees, ferns, mosses and shrubs - plus lots of birds plus scenic rocky streams and waterfalls - sandy beaches - the whole walk is terrific.
We did two sections by using a water taxi and one other section up in the North of the Naitonal Park which was just a "there and back". Whilst up in this area we also took the opportunity to drive over to Farewell Spit and had an enjoyable walk there too - there were loads of birds around the Spit which was an added bonus.

Vertigo. Some people suffer from this (including me) and it's worth noting that the sections of the Trail we walked were mostly quite high up and on sometimes a quite narrow pathway - with big drops on the left although these were often quite disguised by heavy foliage. You also cross a narrow suspension bridge on the Bark's Bay section which also might give some people a problem.

Directions to places mentioned on this page. The "Anchorage" Abel Tasman Track sections are reached by taking the SH60 from Motueka and turning off on the road to Marahu. ( note their are two roads going out this way - the first one on a bend is via the coast and Kaiteriteri - quite scenic but is futher, very narrow and slow to drive), the second is just a little further down the SH60 and is much easier and quicker to drive.
Totaranui, Wainui Falls, Pupu Springs and Farewell Spit. From Motueka head along SH60 - continue on through Riwaka to take the enjoyable 15km drive up and over Takaka Hill - there are 365 bends on this road but there are several passing places. Having dropped down into the valley you pass Upper Takaka and then eventually get to Takaka itself. Turning right takes out along the Abel Tasman Drive via Pohara and Wainui Inlet and on to Totaranui for the Trail and the waterfalls. Turn left at Takaka for Pupu Springs and Farewell Spit.

 

Abel Tasman Trail Sections Walked.

Marahau end of the Abel Tasman Trail Split Apple Rock at Marahau New Zealand Anchorage to Marahau. To walk day sections of the Abel Tasman Track you have to make use of taxi-boats - there are several companies offering this at Marahau When we did the walks in late November we just turned up and were able to get a ride with boats going out from around 0900hrs. It may be that as the summer in New Zealand gets going properly you would want to pre-book though. The trip out to Anchorage included a close look at the Split Apple Rock - the whole trip out took about 45 minutes. The trail section is around 12kms to walk but you have an additional walk of about 2kms back across bridges and then road to the taxi-boat car park.

Anchorage to Marahau on the Abel Tasman Trail views from above Anchorage - Abel Tasman Trail New-Zealand New Zealand beautiful ferns seeon on the Abel Tasman Trail fern lined Abel Tasman near Anchorage beautiful Abel Tasman foliage
Abel Tasman between Anchorage and Marahau lovely beaches along the Abel Tasman Trail cool and shady along the Abel Tasman New Zealand New Zealand's lovely Abel Tasman Abel Tasman Trail lots of streams cross the Abel Tasman Trail

When you arrive at Anchorage the boat crew will indicate where the trail starts - this is because you are not always dropped off at the same place on the long beach. tide still out near Marahau on the Abel Tasman Once you have it's start point found (it's near a picnic area and some buildings and washrooms) the trail is clearly marked and starts flat as it takes you through wetland and just inside the beach but you shortly have a really steep long climb to do. Once up however the trail basically just undulates it's way through really gorgeous tropical forest - the ferns are magnificent right along the trail.
There is no point in any instructions - you cannot go wrong on this well made track - you can and should try to divert down onto some of the beaches as you pass them - all you have to do is just enjoy it all.

 

Barks Bay to Anchorage. Again this involves getting the taxi-boat from Marahau - the trip to Barks Bay takes about an hour. In this case of course you also have to be booked on the return from Anchorage - take note of where the taxi-boat crew say when and where on the beach they will pick you up at Anchorage.

above Barks Bay - Abel Tasman Track Abel Tasman Trail New Zealand - Abel Tasman High suspension bridge Abel Tasman near Barks Bay views from the Abel Tasman Track very narrow path Abel Tasman New Zealand

Note the time this walk takes is dependant on the tide - if the tide is out at Torrent Bay then it's only a 20 minute walk however if high tide then you have to walk all the way round which involves quite a lot of up and downs and takes about 2 hours. This is of course an important issue regarding your water taxi pickup time at Anchorage - the boat crew will tell you the tidal conditions to expect.
We thought the previously mentioned section was really good for it's foliage, rocks and scenery - in fact this section was even better - it was just totally beautiful to walk. You don't have to start off with a steep climb this time but don't worry - one turns up eventually and with a vengeance.

Barks Bay to Anchorage walk Abel Tasman track views shady track - Abel Tasman coastal path New Zealand's Abel Tasman Cleopatras Pool area Abel Tasman Anchorage from the Abel Tasman Track

The track is impossible to go wrong on - however when the track gets down to Torrent Bay and having walked along the beach you have to decide if you can safely cross or have to go the long way round. One advantage of taking the long way round is that you can visit Cleopatra's Pools which are clearly signposted and take around 20 minutes to get to. The really scenic pools, rocks and streams are really worth diverting too but you have to bear in mind your boat pick-up time of course.

 

Abel Tasman - Totaranui - Awaroa Bay walk Abel Tasman Beach in New Zealand New Zealands beautiful Abel Tasman Track Totaranui to Awaroa Bay and back. This was the third of our Abel Tasman walks - this time we did not have to use a ferry boat and we could only go so far because of the high tide. We wanted to do this section because you do really have to go and visit somewhere called Goat Bay don't you?. The once again excellently scenic walk was 11 kms return and visited two particularly nice beaches - Goat Bay and Waiharakeke Bay - the path was generally in good condition however in one short part the path had almost vanished, was slippery with sand and stone and there was an enourmous drop clearly visible on the left... Goats Bay Abel Tasman New Zealand narrow high path - Abel Tasman near Goats Bay New Zealand - Abel Tasman track views Totaranui - Waiharakeke Bay New Zealand The trail starts off at Totaranui camp site and visitors centre - goes along a track for a while and then becomes a path. When you reach Goat Bay you turn right to walk along the beach and if the tide is high have to make educated dashes to get along in front of rocky outcrops before the waves get you. You also walk the beach at Waiharakeke but this is usually straightforward. From this latter beach you continue along through lovely forest crossing bridges and streams to eventually reach the Awaroa Crossing Point - this was the end of our walk as the tide was high.

 

Other Abel Tasman Area Locations to Enjoy

Wainui Falls. The walk to the falls takes about 30 minutes and starts off on a farm track for a short distance but then becomes a pleasant wander on a nice path through woods, ferns and mosses with the stream running alongside.
Abel Tasman - Wainui waterfalls Wainui Waterfalls - New Zealand lots of moss and mini-waterfalls at Wainui New Zealand high up suspension bridge at Wainui waterfalls walk lovely path to Wainui waterfalls New Zealand
There is a bit of a climb to get to the falls including having to cross a really nice suspension bridge (note this is quite high up above the river) but when you get to these lovely waterfalls this is well worth a little effort.

 

Pupu Springs. New Zealand's famous Pupu Springs (Te Waikoropupu Springs) are located on the western edge of the Abel Tasman National Park - near Takaka. The Springs discharge around 14,000 litres of water a second most of which is emitted into the main pool via eight vents.
Abel Tasman - Pupu Springs Pupu Springs New Zealand walkways at Pupu Springs New Zealand - Pupu Springs area clear water at Te Waikoropupu Springs
Although there are larger such springs in other parts of the world Waikoropupu Springs are the second clearest freshwater springs known - with only greater clarity to be found in Antartica.
From the car park it is only a short walk down a well made path to the springs where there is a veiwing platform etc. from where you can watch the water bubling up - you can also walk a little more round the area through forest if you wish.

Pupu Hydro Walkway. Vertigo. It should be noted that you are very high up on the actual walkway and although there are guardrails the height could easily be an issue for some people. Having viewed the Springs many people just return to the main road and head off elsewhere - however shortly after leaving the car park you join another track - if you turn left and follow this for several kilometres you arrive at the beautiful Pupu Walkway.

very steep climb up to the Pupu Walkway New Zealand end of the water-race - Pupu Walkway New Zealand - beautiful Pupu Walkway ferns and moss walkway along the old miners water-race New Zealand water-race Pupu Walkway New Zealand Pupu Walkway New Zealand

This is a great place for a walk to see an historic gold-miners water race which runs along the hillside through gorgeous forest. Follow the signs which will take you on a steep 100 or so metre climb up the hillside through beech/podocarp forest on a beautiful rocky zig-zag path. At the top of the climb the path goes sharp left and from now onwards stays level - soon reaching the penstock where you get an excellent view of the valley as well as the Hydro Powerstation way below. The penstock is a 450mm pipe which drops water over 350 feet down to the Powerhouse - creating 152lbs/sq.in of water pressure to turn the turbine.
The water-race itself starts from here and continues along the hill side for about 1.7km - the whole area is amazingly rich in foliage - beautiful moss and ferns clinging to the rocks on the right and beech/podocarp forest on the left with silver pine and prolific mountain Toa Toa and cedar further below.

beautiful ferns and trees - Pupu Walkway moss-clad rocks along the Pupu Walkway walkway under repair at Pupu - Abel Tasman siphon for the water-race - Pupu Walkway New Zealand track back to the Hydrostation Pupu New Zealand bridge at the bottom of the Pupu Walkway area

The water-race ends at the Campbell Creek where there are gates controlling the water flow - cross over the bridge and continue very steeply up a rough track. After a short while the track levels and there are great views of the forest below - also you can see parts of the water-race in places. The track soon descends - all the time there is excellent scenery - trees, moss, rocks and ferns - the foliage is so dense that although you can hear the Waikoropupu River below on the right you cannot see it very well. The track comes out by the powerhouse - you can walk up a stairway and look inside via a window at the turbines. From here follow the signs to return back on path and walkway crossing several streams to the parking area.

 

Farewell Spit. Located at the northern end of New Zealand's South Island Farewell Spit goes eastwards from Cape Farewell and stretches for 26km above sea level and 6kms underwater - it is the longest sandspit in New Zealand (and the spit is still growing). Farewell Spit - South Island Newzealand mud flats by Farewell Spit - New Zealand At low tide there is around 80 square kilometres of mud flat exposed - needless to say there are many sea birds to be spotted on these extensive flats - they are designated a seabird and wildlife reserve. You can only walk a small section of the spit by yourselves - otherwise if you want to get to the lighthouse etc. you have to use an organized tour.
Note there are other walks you can do in this area - also that there is a cafe and information/visitors centre at the car park by the start of the Spit which has leaflets for some of the available walks.

 

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