beaches, bays & islands in abel tasman

Set in the hook of Tasman Bay are the blue skies, calm waters and golden sands of Abel Tasman National Park. Kayaks are the perfect way to explore the Park and Kahu kayaks offer freedom kayak hire and a range of fascinating guided kayak tours for an adventure that will stay with you forever.People come from all over the world just to see and experience this magnificent coastline, famed for its endless sunshine and its ribbon of beaches, bays and jewel-like islands, each with their own special magic. Park up for a picnic or stay overnight. Enjoy turquoise water with cheeky seals and playful dolphins. Float under the shadows of forested hills, the trees hanging over sheltered bays and glittering golden beaches. It doesn't get better.The beach at Anchorage is the first large classic curve of powdery golden sand reached from the south. With a sheltered northern orientation, it's a great place to picnic and swim the day away. Anchorage Bay has a number of different accommodation options from DOC campsites and huts to a boat stay. While at Anchorage, discover the popular Pitt Head walk which has a great lookout point with spectacular views.

Torrent Bay is just north of Anchorage and has a large tidal lagoon. At low tide you can walk across it, to and from Anchorage. Torrent Bay is the most populated bay, and one of the few places where there are privately owned holiday homes. The views between Torrent Bay and Bark Bay are postcard perfect. At the northern end of the bay, the walking track climbs around an inlet to the biggest river in the park, crossed by a 47m suspension bridge. Bark Bay has an astonishingly beautiful tidal estuary and is perfect for swimming, sunbathing or just relaxing at the sheltered campsite. 

Onetahuti beach is also commonly called Tonga Beach. A golden horseshoe, it is one of the longest beaches in the Park. From the beach you can see Tonga Island, home of New Zealand fur seals. A Wildlife Management Reserve occupies much of Awaroa Bay. There is a small settlement of holiday baches here as well as the Awaroa Lodge which offers accommodation, restaurant and a bar. Pull up in your kayak for a well-earned coffee break. At low tide you can walk across the picturesque inlet to Totaranui Beach. Totaranui Beach is located toward the northern end of Abel Tasman National Park and because of the road access, it's often used as a starting or finishing point for walking or kayaking the Park. Totaranui Beach has some impressive stands of native bush and a popular camping ground next to the golden beach.

The island is a kayaking paradise. Fisherman Island is the first to be reached when paddling north up the coast. It is a stunning remote predator free island, bustling with native wildlife, surrounded by rich green-blue waters. Next to Fisherman Island is the much larger Adele Island, another predator free wildlife sanctuary. A trapping and predator monitoring network has been set up to prevent predators swimming to the island, just 800 metres from the coast. Now Adele Island is home to a large variety of native wildlife, especially birdlife and the regenerating bird chorus is extraordinary. Kayakers should look out for little blue penguins and fur seals slipping quietly into the crystal water. North of Adele, Pinnacle Island is a protected Marine Mammal Reserve with a breeding colony of seals. They can be seen lazing on the warm rocks after a hard morning's hunting in the surrounding waters. The magical Tonga Island, off Onetahuti beach is one of the most popular islands to explore by kayak. It's a legendary fur seal hot-spot and part of the Tonga Island Marine Reserve. Kayakers may also encounter little blue penguins and will occasionally be joined by a pod of dolphins.