Abel Tasman National Park

The park's rocky coastline is a haven for miniature marine life and is always a fascinating place to explore. You will see even more when you pause for a swim with your snorkel and goggles! Between the tides, plants and animals occupy distinct bands like the forest zones between sea level and the bush-line. Periwinkles, tubeworms, Neptune's necklace, starfish and pink algae are all adapted to a particular level of exposure to sun and wind. Underwater, you will discover seaweed, sea urchins or kina and Cook's turban shells. Fur seals are found along the coast of the park, particularly on the more remote granite headlands of Tonga Island. Please note seals should not be approached closer than 20 metres. (Information courtesy of Department of Conservation.)

Many of our trips operate in the Tonga Island Marine Reserve which is the third marine reserve to be created alongside a national park. It covers an area of 1835 hectares, extending one nautical mile (1852m) offshore from the mean high water mark of Tonga Island, and the coast between Awaroa Head and the headland separating Bark Bay and Mosquito Bay. The marine reserve protects all marine life within its boundaries, benefiting not just fish and shellfish, but also animals like seals, penguins and other seabirds that live on the land but feed in the sea. (Information courtesy of Department of Conservation). Abel Tasman Kayaks holds a marine mammal watching permit.

The three largest islands in the park, Tonga, Adele and Fisherman, are home to many native plants and animal species which are either low in number or are no longer found on the nearby mainland.

Adele Island
Adele Island is a strikingly beautiful island and is predator free. It is home to many native New Zealand birds and the west side of the island has some great beaches which shift with the tide. With rapidly growing numbers of native birds, the bird chorus is like the birdsong early explorers heard.

Fisherman Island
Stunning remote island situated in the park just waiting to be explored! Bustling with native wildlife, secluded and wondrous, this island is a must see on your journey.

The Abel Tasman has an excellent coastal walking track, and a more remote inland track. Walking sections of the coastal track can be readily integrated with sea kayaking along the Abel Tasman coastline. Department of Conservation advertises the following walking times:

There are a number of excellent tidal lagoons along the Abel Tasman coastline (e.g. Torrent Bay Lagoon, Frenchman's Bay Lagoon, Falls River, Bark Bay, Awaroa Inlet). Generally these can be explored by sea kayak 2 hours either side of high tide. There is insufficient water to kayak in the lagoons outside these times.

If walking the coastal track, you will need to time your walk with the tidal crossings.

Do not attempt to cross the tidal estuaries at high tide! The tides rise and fall twice a day and need to be considered with regards to the scheduling of your walk or sea kayak trip. Once you have decided when you will be in the park, work out the high and low tide times. (See below). There are two places that you can only cross around low tide: Awaroa Estuary, and Onetahuti river mouth. Torrent Bay Estuary and Bark Bay Estuary have an alternative high tide route, but these are longer and slower than the low tide crossing routes. The exact timing of your window for crossing will depend on which place, phase of the moon, weather conditions and how tall you are!

• 2 hours either side of low tide is fine for Awaroa Estuary,
• 4 hours either side of low tide for Onetahuti

and just take the high tide route around the others if it looks too deep. The 2 hour rule offers the best margin of safety and comfort.

To determine tide times for a given date, use this site. You will need to select the tide times for Nelson, and subtract 20 minutes from all readings to gain an accurate time for the Abel Tasman National Park.

Normally the weather in the Abel Tasman National Park is warm and sunny. The average summer temperature is 24 C (75 F), minimum temperature 13C (55F) and water temperature 18C (65F). During the cooler winter months the average daily maximum is 12C (54F), minimum temperature is 4C (39F), and the water is 14C (58F). Winds can occur during any time of the year, and can affect kayaking itineraries and timing. Autumn and early winter are generally calmer.
Current weather and forward forecasts can be viewed as below:

Abel Tasman coastal forecast

Further information on the Abel Tasman National Park can be found at the following sites:
The Department of Conservation (DOC) and Nelson Tasman Tourism