My first visit to the abel tasman area was to torrent bay on my fathers boat in april 1958 and again in december 1961. Torrent river from marahau youll join us on an exhilarating water taxi ride through the astrolabe roadstead into anchorage. When abel tasman national park was formed in 1942, the village was not included in the park, so remains as a village of holiday houses on. With marahau sea kayaks, we did the first leg of the trail by sea. If youd rather be independent, you can rent sea kayaks and stay at campsites, huts or lodges within the park. Highlights include the walk across the falls river swingbridge and across the torrent bay estuary. Torrent bay lodge has comfortable doubletwin ensuite rooms, each named after ships that featured in the nautical history of the abel tasman coast.
Ideal for day walks and combined trips with kayaking and walking. Abel tasman national park accommodation new zealand at. The roadstead provides a sheltered route for kayakers and boaties. Adele and fisherman islands anchorage astrolabe roadstead awaroa bark bay cleopatras pool falls river swingbridge kaiteriteri marahau onetahuti pitt head seal colony shag harbour te pukatea bay tonga arches tonga quarry torrent bay torrent river totaranui. The torrent bay lodge experience torrent bay lodge has comfortable doubletwin ensuite rooms, each named after ships that featured in the nautical history of the abel tasman coast. All streams are bridged and most people can walk it.
In december 1642, abel janszoon tasman, a dutch navigator, and his crew anchored new zealand near wainui bay as the first europeans. Then the real fun begins as you jump, slide, float, zipline and abseil down the gorgeous granite canyon. There are a number of excellent tidal lagoons along the abel tasman coastline, like torrent bay lagoon, falls river, bark bay and awaroa inlet, but the stunning frenchmans bay captures the sight with a calm tidal lagoon of clear blue water especially beautiful viewed from above on a viewpoint along the abel tasman coastal track. Dunedin to abel tasman national park 4 ways to travel. Find all the transport options for your trip from dunedin to abel tasman national park right here. Abel tasman national park walk torrent bay to bark bay.
On 18 december 1642, dutch explorer abel tasman anchored his two ships near wainui. Biography of dutch navigator and explorer abel tasman. Abel janszoon tasman was a dutch seafarer, explorer, and merchant, best known for his. Along the way youll rediscover the pristine bays and beaches named by french explorer, dumont durville in 1827. He was in command of two vessels that belonged to the dutch east india company voc which had dispatched tasman to look for the fabled southern continent in august 1642. Abel tasmans coastal track meanders past some of our most beautiful. On behalf of the dutch east india company, he had set out to explore the mythical southern continent.
Accommodation at abel tasman national park, new zealand in torrent bay, fernbank holiday homes are comfortable, peaceful and spacious. Anchorage, torrent bay, onetahuti, bark bay, awaroa and totaranui. The following morning tasman sent small boats out to look for a better anchorage. Due to unfavourable winds captain cook never risked closer inspection. You then leave the golden sand beaches of the coast for a stunning 1. More recent trips have included the walk from marahau to anchorage with my wife in december 1984 and a day visit with family in january 2003 when we went to torrent bay village by water taxi and walked around to anchorage. Falls river swingbridge kaiteriteri marahau onetahuti pitt head seal colony shag harbour te pukatea bay tonga arches tonga quarry torrent. Find all the transport options for your trip from napier to abel tasman national park right here. His was the first known european expedition to reach the islands of van diemens land now tasmania and new zealand, and to sight the fiji islands. Webcams astrolabe anchorage astrolabe torrent bay awaroa astrolabe our camera overlooking astrolabe roadstead provides views across to motuareronui adele island and south towards marahau in the distance. Abel janszoon tasman was a dutch explorer who spent much of his life working for. However, the real beauty of this walk is the ability to feel like youve discovered your own special little beach, even if hundreds probably have been there before you. Abel tasman adventure water taxi tour of the abel tasman.
Rome2rio makes travelling from dunedin to abel tasman national park easy. Christchurch to abel tasman national park 5 ways to. Aquataxi into the heart of the park, onetahuti and walk part of the abel tasman coastal track to anchorage 6hrs. Rome2rio makes travelling from napier to abel tasman national park easy. From maori to european history of the abel tasman national park. The abel tasman, the smallest national park in new zealand does pack quite a punch for adventurers. Find all the transport options for your trip from auckland to abel tasman national park right here. Rome2rio makes travelling from christchurch to abel tasman national park easy. Apr 25, 2017 abel tasman famous explorers of the world. Popular starting point for water taxis and cruises, but also for kayaking to split apple rock, with many accommodation options. Click here to see torrent bay abel tasman s tide chart for the week.
Hiking the abel tasman in 3 days lost in silver fern. Rakauroa torrent bay is a bay in abel tasman national park, new zealand torrent bay was named by french explorer dumont durville during his exploration and mapping of this area of new zealand in 1827. Mount cook to abel tasman national park 3 ways to travel. We left our kayak at observation beach and then hiked over to anchorage where the kayak company had left our bags for us. Walkin or boatin to this beachside campsite on the torrent bay estuary to bark bay section of the abel tasman coast track. Skydive abel tasman has been helping visitors enjoy new zealands most scenic skydive experience for 25 years. When dutch explorer abel tasman sailed into new zealand waters and came upon this large and highly elevated land, he was looking for a great southern continent. Torrent bay was named by french explorer dumont durville during his exploration and mapping of this area of new zealand in 1827. Explore the lush green forest of abel tasman national park. The abel tasman coast track is a 51 kilometre 32 miles, easy to moderate walking track that passes through a picturesque landscape of coastal forests and golden sandy beaches.
On december, 1642, dutch seafarer, explorer and merchant abel janszoon tasman became the first european to sight new zealand. Rome2rio is a doortodoor travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Abel tasman, a dutch explorer, was the first european to visit new zealand, and he anchored in golden bay on 18 december 1642. Experience the true essence of a kiwi beach holiday in new zealands finest coastal national park. Its a civilised place to stay, far away from the hustle and bustle of town. Abel tasman abel janszoon tasman 1603 1659 was a seafarer, explorer and merchant, best known for his voyages of 1642 and 1644 in the service of the voc united east india company. Abel tasman national park is a new zealand national park located between golden bay and tasman bay at the north end of the south island. It is working with doc, the abel tasman birdsong trust, local iwi and the community to restore the ecology of the abel tasman national park over a 30year time frame. Be sure to hire your sea kayak before you go into abel tasman national park. Torrent bay lodge accommodation in nelson tasman, new.
Experience the true essence of new zealands finest coastal national park with an unforgettable overnight stay at torrent bay lodge. Welcome to wilsons abel tasman national park new zealand. He was the first known european explorer to reach the islands of van diemens land now tasmania and new zealand, and to sight the fiji islands. Abel tasman adventure aquataxi into the heart of the park, onetahuti and walk part of the abel tasman coastal track to anchorage 6hrs. Abel tasman track part 1 torrent bay to awaroa davidfromak. Abel tasman n ation l p rk gre a tw lk hu great walk campsite s c en iamps t shelter toilet car park compulsory low tide crossing at awaroa inlet. He sailed past the entrance to what is now tasman bay on march 29, 1770, and again in may 1773. Walking or kayaking the abel tasman coast is spectacular from all directions. There is a short walk up to south head from the main trek, the sign says it is a 5 minute walk but it is quite a steep climb and depending on level of fitness it takes a lot longer, but the views from the top are spectacular. One day hiking guide to abel tasman national park how to.
With this complete guide on hiking the abel tasman, you will learn how to get to the trailhead of abel tasman great walk, which trails to pick, and how to compress your experience into a one day epic abel tasman hike from motueka, new zealand. Kayak option sea kayak torrent bay to kaiteriteri 4. Fires permitted in designated fire places and only if there is no regional fire ban. The tide is currently falling in torrent bay abel tasman. I recommend abel tasman sea shuttles as they have a great boat with good upstairs and downstairs areas, and a fantastic on and off ramp so you stay dry. This is a 7km walk with stunning views, lovely beaches and a swing bridge over the falls river. It was established in 1942, exactly 300 years after abel tasman, the dutch explorer anchored here.
Tasman named frederick hendrik bay, which included the present north bay, marion bay and. Tasman sailed on up the west coast of the north island, avoiding further contact with native new zealanders. Then on your final day, walk the easiest section of the coastal track from torrent bay to marahau, with panaromic views across tasman bay to nelson. One of only 2 beachfront lodges within the boundaries of abel tasman national park.
The abel tasman national park is new zealands smallest and you will be immersed in scenic splendour during your 4 days of walking here. The abel tasman great walk is around circuit track that requires 3 4 days to complete and since i was under the time constraint of 5 weeks, i decided to do part of it. Jan 27, 2019 itinerary for doing the abel tasman in three days. Find unique places to stay with local hosts in 191 countries. Dec, 2017 in 1770 128 years after abel tasman and his crew anchored off of the coast of new zealand captain james cook visited the area. Abel tasman aqua taxis are based at marahau and leave from there, but do pickups at kaiteriteri. He encountered the native maori people there, who attacked the foreign intruders. Dutch merchant and sailor abel tasman was credited with discovering tasmania and new zealand, and first sighting fiji. We took the abel tasman sea shuttle from nelson to kaiteriteri and on to torrent bay passing by the famous split apple rock. May 4, 2016 abel tasman national park is a new zealand national park located between golden bay and tasman bay at the north end of the south island. Tasman named frederick hendrik bay, which included the present north bay, marion bay and the inlet blackman bay the name frederick henry bay.
Located in central motueka, they are the only dropzone in new zealand who can show you the mind blowing views of both islands and the abel tasman national park. Top beaches along the route include totoranui, bark bay, torrent bay, which are all on ferry route, and onetahuti. It extends from marahau in the south to wainui in the north, with many side tracks. Boats anchored at anchorage bay on the abel tasman coast track. For centuries many had imagined such a land mass in the southern ocean between australia and south america.
The abel tasman coast track is a 60 km long walking track within the abel tasman national park in new zealand. It was named by french explorer dumont durville during his exploration and mapping of this area of new zealand in 1827, torrent bay was surveyed as a village in the 1920s. A chart from durvilles visit shows six huts at torrent bay and he, and others like. History of the abel tasman national park project janszoon.
Cycling in tasman and golden bays most beautiful coastal and inland areas plus a scenic cruise, and 3 days of easy walking in lush native forest as well as kayaking on pristine bays with golden sandy beaches. Directly across from anchorage is torrent bay with the largest concentration of privately owned beach houses, or baches to locals, in the park. Rome2rio makes travelling from auckland to abel tasman national park easy. Rakauroa torrent bay is a bay in abel tasman national park, new zealand. See more ideas about abel tasman national park, abel tasman and new zealand. The first meeting abel tasman and maori in golden bay nz. Private accommodation is available in torrent bay and awaroa. It is one of two main tracks through the park, the other being the abel tasman inland track, which stretches for 38 km between tinline bay and torrent. Abel tasman national park is an idyllic sea kayaking region with a number of kayaking companies that run guided tours from marahau, kaiteriteri and golden bay. Abel tasman national park does not cease to impress. Torrent bay to bark bay medlands bay abel tasman national. Torrent bay is a bay in abel tasman national park, new zealand. It is named after abel tasman, who in 1642 became the first european explorer to sight new zealand and who anchored nearby in golden bay.
Torrent bay abel tasman tide times, tides forecast. Experiencing kayaking on the abel tasman is pretty awesome and not difficult with a guided trip. At torrent bay the bach culture was started when henry rainer built his. Abel tasman a dutch explorer, is known for his voyages in the service of the dutch east india company and the first known european explorer to reach tasmania and new zealand. Abel tasman, in full abel janszoon tasman, born 1603. Situated beside a tidal estuary, the torrent bay village campsite is five minutes from a scheduled water taxi stop. Torrent bay was named by french explorer dumont durville during his. Auckland to abel tasman national park 2 ways to travel. Torrent bay abel tasman tide times, tides forecast, fishing. Torrent bay awaroa beach tonga quarry t ar kohe anatimo. Torrent bay lodge accommodation in nelson tasman, new zealand.
Walking the gentlest grade on the track, rediscover the pristine bays and headlands named by french explorer, dumont durville in 1827. Walkin or boatin to this campsite on the torrent bay estuary to bark bay section of the abel tasman coast track. This cycling trail takes a leisurely tour of tasman and golden bays most beautiful coastal and inland areas. All streams are bridged and most people can walk it in three to five days with plenty of time to explore. French explorer dumont durvilles ship, the astrolabe, anchored off the coast of the park. Optional crossings at rakauroa torrent bay and bark bay. Day 3 cruise to anchorage to spend relaxing day on the beach, explore the pitt head loop track or walk the easy southern section of the coastal track towards. As you can see on the tide chart, the highest tide of 3. Tasman entered the service of the dutch east india company in 1632 or 1633 and made his first voyage of exploration to ceram modern seram island in modern indonesia as captain of the mocha in 1634. Abel tasman sea shuttles and wilson experiences leave from kaiteriteri. Took the bus from nelson to marahau where the trail starts. Breakfast, morning and afternoon tea, lunch, dinner.
Stop for lunch at any one of the bays then continue on for your welcome at torrent bay. Find all the transport options for your trip from christchurch to abel tasman national park right here. Experience nelson, golden bay and abel tasman walkcycle. Fantastic location for accessing the abel tasman park, convenient for water taxis and close to the start of the track. On the 16th of december 1642, abel janszoon tasman of the dutch east india. Vista cruise transport, all food and guided activity options with wilsons abel tasman. Abel tasman national park things to see and do nelson. Torrent bay is only accessible by boat, and be prepared to wade ashore as the boat cannot get right up to the beach. Mar 25, 20 torrent bay is only accessible by boat, and be prepared to wade ashore as the boat cannot get right up to the beach. Napier to abel tasman national park 5 ways to travel via. As you walk to the head of the torrent river take in elevated views of anchorage and torrent bay. When the dutch explorer abel janszoon tasman sailed into golden bay in. Abel tasman national park tips tourleader new zealand.