Q: When is the best time of year to walk the Abel Tasman Track?
The Abel Tasman National Park is a stunning destination throughout the main walking seasons. Early December is an excellent time to visit, with perfect walking weather and relatively quiet tracks before the peak summer crowds.
Summer (December to February) is the warmest time of year, ideal for swimming in the turquoise waters and enjoying the golden beaches. This is also the busiest period, so expect to share the trail with more visitors.
The shoulder seasons of autumn (March to May) and spring (September to November) are highly recommended for dedicated walkers. During these months, the weather is typically settled and cooler, creating perfect conditions for hiking. The tracks are less crowded, allowing for a more peaceful and immersive experience in the beautiful coastal wilderness.
Q: What’s included (and excluded) in the price?
This is a premium, fully-inclusive group-guided walking holiday where every detail is managed for you.
What’s Included:
- Expert Guides: You will be accompanied by experienced local guides who will share their knowledge of the area’s ecology, history, and Maori culture.
- Accommodation: 5 nights in comfortable lodges with ensuite rooms, including two nights at the renowned 4-star Awaroa Lodge.
- All Meals: The trip is fully catered, including 5 breakfasts, 4 packed walkers’ lunches, and 5 dinners. This features high-quality meals, such as two-course à la carte dinners at Awaroa Lodge.
- All Transfers: Return transfers from Nelson to the start of the track are included. All boat transfers required to access different sections of the track are also covered, providing spectacular views of the coastline from the water.
- Pack-Free Walking: Your main luggage is transported for you, so you only need to carry a small daypack with your daily essentials.
What’s Excluded:
- Flights: Flights to and from Nelson, New Zealand, are not included.
- Drinks: Alcoholic beverages and other drinks with meals are not included.
Q: What’s the accommodation like?
The accommodation on this trip is a key highlight, offering a comfortable and restorative retreat after each day’s walk. You will spend five nights in beautiful lodges situated in or adjacent to the national park, all with private ensuite rooms.
A special feature of this itinerary is the two-night stay at the 4-star Awaroa Lodge. This stunning eco-lodge is located deep within the Abel Tasman National Park, accessible only by foot or boat.
Its remote location provides an incredible sense of immersion in the wilderness, while the lodge itself offers exceptional comfort, a superb restaurant, and a relaxing atmosphere. Other nights are spent in comfortable lodges in Marahau, nestled in native bush right on the edge of the park, ensuring you are always close to the natural beauty of the region.
Q: How difficult is the Abel Tasman Track and can different walk paces be managed?
The Abel Tasman Coast Track is considered a challenging walk, and a good level of fitness is recommended to fully enjoy the experience. The trail involves daily walks over undulating terrain, with some ascents and descents through coastal forest and along cliff-top paths.
As this is a group-guided walk, the group generally walks together between destinations. However, the experienced guides are adept at managing the group’s pace to ensure it is comfortable for everyone.
The guides set appropriate break times and manage the overall speed of the group to suit the terrain and conditions. While you won’t be setting your own individual pace as on a self-guided trip, the expert group management ensures a supportive and enjoyable experience for all participants.
Q: How do I check availability and when should I book?
This is a group-guided walk that runs on set departure dates with a limited number of places in each group. You can check current departure dates here.
Because group sizes are kept small to ensure a quality experience, these trips can fill up very quickly. This is especially true for dates during the popular summer months (December to February). We strongly advise booking well in advance to secure your spot on your preferred departure date.
GROUP GUIDED
6 DAYS 
Moderate 
GROUP GUIDED
6 DAYS 
Moderate 
Berenice L
The accommodation and food were excellent.
Carmel S
The entire walk went extremely well. Everything was well planned. Thank you!
Jennifer T
Abel Tasman walk exceeded my expectationsThe accommodation was excellent as was the foodThe aqua taxi trips added to the experience,. The walking was excellent with fabulous scenery and the tracks easily navigated .Would highly recommend this walk !
Pat M
Our trip went extremely well. Terry’s Transfers collected us at our B&B in Nelson on time. Great chat during the 1h drive to Marahau – we enjoyed. Abel Tasman Lodge under new ownership since late 2024. Tina was a wonderful host. Accommodation was excellent as was super “tray breakfast2 delivered to our room promptly every morning. The packed lunch was one of the best we’ve received over many years of hiking holidays – generally in European mountain ranges. The sandwich was tasty and sufficient. Tina always included some home baked items which were delicious. Awaroa Lodge was also lovely – setting is special. Team really friendly and helpful and food (breakfast and diner) was top notch. So we would highly recommend all current arrangements
Andrew McM
The whole trip ran like a well oiled machine, all the transfers, including the fabulous water taxi’s , all made our experience so easy, so much fun. Weather was amazing, accommodation was great, food (including packed lunches) was sensational. Loved every minute of the holiday.
Lisa M
I loved every minute, the weather, the scenery, the water, the food, even those tough up hills, knowing there was an even tougher downhill to follow. The beaches were AMAZING, and all of the staff, including the amazing water taxi drivers, were fabulous. I think the water taxi rides are definitely a highlight for me, random fun facts thrown in along the way. The delicious breakfasts, amazing packed lunches (the best) and the most wonderful meals every night. Slept like a baby every night. So much fun, I was sad when it was over . Until next time Abel Tasman x
James B
Our experience of walking the Abel Tasman New Zealand with Auswalks was beyond our expectations. Everything was so well organised from beginning to end, with no detail left to chance. The accommodation at Abel Tasman lodge was wonderful and restful! The food options are our first stop at Marahau, Hooked Restaurant and Park Cafe, were fabulous and highly recommend. We especially enjoyed Arawoa Lodge with an inhouse restaurant and cafe – all the food was wonderful and the service from the staff was exceptional. The walks themselves take you through beautiful forests and coastline, and we felt so refreshed from our time away. Early December was an excellent time to go as the weather was perfect for walking, and it wasn’t very busy on the tracks. This is our second walk with Auswalks, previously having walked the Three Capes Tasmania with them, and we are already planning many more! We highly recommend them.
Evelyn P
All we had to think about was walking. Eat, sleep, walk, repeat with confidence. Route well chosen and matched to tide timetables.
Janet W
The itinerary was very seamless and accommodation also was excellent in ensuring that the whole process was streamlined and enjoyable. We just loved every aspect of the Abel Tasman park.
Robert C
Very well organised guided tour with great pre tour information, hiking notes and apps.
Joan
Fabulous Auswalk guides who really understood us & were flexible & generous – together with the magnificent Abel Tasman Coast – made our 6-day hike a dream. It was a challenging walk though, training recommended! A great sense of achievement afterwards & memories for ever.