Abel Tasman Beaches: A Bay-by-Bay Guide From Mārahau to Tōtaranui

Sarah-Jane Lee

Oct 7

9 min read

Updated: Oct 11

A summer holiday by the beach is a Kiwi classic, and Abel Tasman National Park's golden beaches are an irresistible invitation. Crystal-clear water in every shade of blue. Bush-covered hills rolling down to the sand. Safe, shallow tidal estuaries where kids (and the young at heart) can paddle for hours.

The good news? You don't need to pick a favourite. The coast is dotted with bays from Mārahau in the south to Tōtaranui in the north, and there's plenty of sand to go around.

This guide walks you bay by bay, south to north, in the same order you'd meet them on the Abel Tasman Coast Track. For each one: what makes it special, how to get there, and whether you can stay the night.

Planning the bigger trip? See my Abel Tasman & Top of the South summer itinerary for how to fit the park into a South Island road trip.

Starting from Nelson or Motueka? See my Nelson travel guide and 10 great ideas for a day in Motueka.

Abel Tasman beaches at a glance

Tinline Bay: walk from Mārahau. The lone pine and a quiet first stop. DOC campsite.
Anchorage Bay: water taxi, or a 4-hour walk from Mārahau. Long beach, short walks, families. Campsite and hut.
Te Pukatea Bay: walk over Pitt Head from Anchorage. A quiet horseshoe bay. Small campsite.
Cleopatra's Pool: walk from Anchorage or Torrent Bay. Rock pool and natural waterslide.
Torrent Bay: water taxi (morning drop-offs only) or walk. Estuary walks and a bach village. Campsite.
Medlands Beach: water taxi. An easy first taste of the track.
Bark Bay: water taxi or walk. Sandspit, swing bridge, overnight stays. Campsite and hut.
Onetahuti Beach: water taxi or walk. Sunsets, seals and snorkelling. Campsite.
Awaroa: water taxi or walk (tidal crossing). Golden estuary and kayaking. Campsite and hut.
Tōtaranui: road from Tākaka, or water taxi. Big beach, family camping. Large campground.

Tinline Bay, a lone pine and no, its not #wanakalonepine Abel Tasman National Park, Nelson

Tinline Bay: the lone pine

Walk north from the park's southern entrance at Mārahau and Tinline Bay is one of the first beaches you'll reach. It's a small sandy bay with a fascinating natural quirk.

No, it's not #thatwanakatree. It's a lone pine growing out of a granite rock. The tree self-seeded and clings on with a tenacious grip, while the golden beach behind it acts as the perfect backdrop.

While you're here, take the Tinline Bay Nature Walk, an easy 20-minute return walk through native bush.

Stay the night: Tinline campsite sits on a grassy terrace a little way up from the beach, with toilets. Book through DOC.

Tip: Heading north to Bark Bay? Stop for a photo of #thattinlinepine first. It makes a great holiday memory.

Anchorage Bay, Abel Tasman National Park, a scheduled water taxi stop, Nelson

Anchorage Bay and Te Pukatea Bay

Te Pukatea Bay, Abel Tasman National Park

Anchorage is a wide golden beach, around 900 metres long, and one of the park's busiest hubs. It's popular for good reason: great views and several short walks right on the doorstep.

Walk the Pitt Head loop to the exquisite Te Pukatea Bay
At low tide, explore the estuary and walk across the sand to Torrent Bay
Detour to Cleopatra's Pool, a rock pool on the Torrent River
Poke around the rocky outcrops and caves at either end of the beach at low tide. You may even spot glow-worms at the northern end

Be warned: in peak summer the bay can look a bit like a supermarket car park, with kayak tours, yachts, boaties and water taxis coming and going. Thankfully, the foreshore is big enough to find your own space.

Getting there: Walk in from Mārahau (12.4 km, about 4 hours) or take a water taxi. Book water taxis well ahead over summer.

Stay the night: Anchorage has one of the largest campsites in the park, plus Anchorage Hut. Both must be booked in advance through DOC.

Tip: To continue to Torrent Bay, the low-tide route across the estuary is quicker (it's crossable about 2 hours either side of low tide). At other times, take the all-tide track around the estuary. Check the DOC tide tables before you set off.

Te Pukatea Bay

Te Pukatea is a jewel. It's a perfect horseshoe of golden sand, framed by bush-covered hills and the deep, clear blue of Tasman Bay.

It's off the main track, and water taxis don't stop here, so it feels a world away from busy Anchorage. Walk over Pitt Head from Anchorage: about 1.5 hours return, and the stuff of holiday dreams. A #nzmustdo for beach lovers.

Stay the night: Te Pukatea has a small DOC campsite with only a handful of tent sites, so book early.

Cleopatra's Pool

Fancy a bracing dip in mountain river water? Cleopatra's Pool is a #nzmustdo swim spot for adventure seekers.

The detour takes you through native forest, and the sound of rushing water tells you you're getting close. The pool sits in the Torrent River canyon among waterfalls, rapids and tumbling boulders. Its star attraction is a moss-lined rock chute that works as a natural waterslide.

Sprawl on the sun-warmed boulders and watch people whoosh down into the pool below. Take care if you try it yourself, as there can be sharp rocks under the water.

Getting there: The easiest way is a water taxi to Anchorage, then walk to the pool and back the same way to your pick-up. It's about 2.2 km, or 30 to 45 minutes, each way, so allow half a day with a swim.

Tip: The river water is untreated. Carry your own drinking water and don't drink from the river.

Torrent Bay

Torrent Bay's tidal estuary is a thread of golden sand woven between pools of crystal-clear seawater, with lush bush-covered hills all around. It's the Abel Tasman at its best, and an idyllic place to slow down to nature's tidal rhythm.

Cleopatra's Pool is nearby, and at low tide you can walk across the estuary to Anchorage.

Interesting fact: Torrent Bay is home to a small settlement of private baches inside the national park. They're historic, no new building is allowed, and they rarely come up for sale. To protect the peace, water taxis can only drop passengers off here before noon, and there are no pick-ups at all. Plan to walk out to Anchorage or Bark Bay for your ride home.

Stay the night: The DOC campsite sits among the trees beside the estuary. Book ahead.

Medlands Beach and Bark Bay

Want a bite of paradise without committing to the whole track? Medlands Beach is a great place to dip your toes into one of New Zealand's Great Walks.

Cruise in by water taxi to a picture-perfect beach. From there, the coast track winds through scented mānuka and native ferns, with outstanding views swinging into sight around every corner.

Walk 10 minutes to the Medlands lookout, with sweeping views over the beach and a striking Māori carving
Cross the Falls River swing bridge, 47 metres long and great fun to bounce across
Stroll 20 minutes on to Bark Bay

Bark Bay

Right in the middle of the park, Bark Bay is a stunner, and an ideal place to stay overnight.

A picture-ready sandspit shows off its charms at low tide
The tidal lagoon is perfect for kids to paddle in the warm summer water
Kayak tours often stop here on trips to the Tonga Island Marine Reserve
It's a regular water taxi stop, so it's easy to get to
Mārahau is a long day's hike away (about 24 km)

Stay the night: Camp right beside the beach at Bark Bay campsite, or book Bark Bay Hut. The campsite catches the winter sun, so it's a lovely spot year round.

Walks from Bark Bay:

Torrent Bay to Bark Bay via Medlands: about 4 km, crossing the Falls River swing bridge
Bark Bay Falls: for active walkers, about a 9 km return walk to a pretty waterfall

Onetahuti Beach and Tonga Island Marine Reserve

Walk or boat into Onetahuti, a long sweep of glittering golden sand. Photographers love it at sunset, with the forested hills glowing and the curved beach in the foreground. From the southern end, a boardwalk and bridge carry the track north towards Awaroa.

Stay the night: The DOC campsite is just metres from the high-tide mark.

Tonga Island Marine Reserve

Just offshore is a wildlife bonanza. Fur seals lounge on the Tonga Island rocks, hinting at the rich marine world beneath. The protected water supports red rock crabs, crayfish, snapper, hermit crabs and kina.

Snorkellers: the best spots are between Tonga Quarry and Foul Point
Divers: head for the reef around Tonga Island
Kayakers: keep an eye out for little blue penguins, and you may even meet a pod of dolphins

Guided kayak and boat tours run here daily in summer. The guides know where to look, and will point out penguins, shags, gannets and dolphins when they appear.

Awaroa: the people's beach

This 800-metre arc of bush-backed golden sand captured the hearts of New Zealanders. In 2016, when part of the beach came up for private sale, two Kiwis started a crowdfunding campaign to buy it for the public. Around 40,000 donations raised about NZ$2.3 million, the Government added NZ$350,000, and the land was handed over to become part of Abel Tasman National Park.

At low tide, Awaroa is something else: rivers of golden sand and shallow pools of seawater stretching across the inlet. At high tide, the estuary is a magical place to kayak. Keep your eyes peeled for stingrays.

Awaroa is also home to a lodge. For accommodation and dining, check the lodge's own website or TripAdvisor.

Stay the night: Awaroa Hut and campsite are on the northern side of the inlet. Book through DOC.

Crossing Awaroa Inlet

If you're walking the coast track north to Tōtaranui, you'll need to time your crossing with the tide.

The inlet can only be crossed from 1.5 hours before to 2 hours after low tide
Allow about 25 minutes to cross, and only cross in daylight
Tide heights, storm surges and heavy rain can shorten the window
Check the DOC tide tables, and plan your day around them

From Awaroa, it's about 7 km (2 hr 20 min) on to Tōtaranui.

Tōtaranui

At the park's northern end, staggeringly beautiful Tōtaranui stretches for more than a kilometre of deep golden sand. It's the only part of the coast track you can reach by road, and the furthest north the water taxis go.

Swim, kayak or simply laze about on the foreshore
Let the kids paddle safely in the tidal estuary
Join a fishing trip out into Tasman Bay
Walk north towards Separation Point and its resident fur seal colony
Walk south along the coast to Awaroa

Getting there by road: From Tākaka, follow the signs towards Pōhara and the Abel Tasman Memorial, then turn onto Tōtaranui Road. It's about 32 km, and the last stretch is a narrow, winding gravel road over the hill. Allow up to an hour, and take it slowly.

Stay the night: Tōtaranui is one of DOC's biggest campgrounds, with hundreds of tent sites spread through sheltered zones and several amenity blocks. It's hugely popular with Kiwi families over summer, so book as early as you can.

While you're in Golden Bay, slow down and explore. Here's my Tākaka and Golden Bay guide.

Keep exploring the Top of the South

Where to stay

Browse places to stay on Booking.com in Mārahau, Kaiteriteri and Motueka.

This post includes affiliate links. If you book through them, Best Bits Travel may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Plan your visit

Water taxis leave from Mārahau and Kaiteriteri and stop at the main bays. They're the easiest way to do a one-way walk: get dropped at one beach and picked up at another. Book ahead in summer.
Check the tides. Torrent Bay and Awaroa both have tidal crossings, and the beaches change completely between high and low tide. DOC publishes tide tables for the park.
Book huts and campsites early. All Great Walk huts and campsites must be booked through DOC, and summer weekends fill up fast. International visitors pay higher Great Walk fees.
Carry water. Not all stream and river water in the park is treated. Bring enough, or treat it before drinking.
Facilities: DOC campsites have toilets, but there are no shops inside the park. Stock up in Mārahau, Kaiteriteri or Motueka.
Leave no trace. Take all your rubbish home and stay on marked tracks.

Compare Abel Tasman kayak and water taxi tours on GetYourGuide.

FAQs

What is the best beach in Abel Tasman National Park?

It depends what you're after. Te Pukatea Bay is the prettiest quiet bay, Anchorage and Bark Bay are best for families and overnight stays, Awaroa is the most spectacular at low tide, and Tōtaranui is the easiest to reach by car.

Can you visit Abel Tasman beaches without walking the whole track?

Yes. Water taxis from Mārahau and Kaiteriteri drop you at bays along the coast. Walk a section between two beaches and get picked up again the same day.

Which Abel Tasman beach can you drive to?

Tōtaranui, at the northern end of the park, is reached by road from Tākaka in Golden Bay. Mārahau, the southern entrance, also has road access and car parks.

How do you get to Cleopatra's Pool?

Take a water taxi to Anchorage, then walk about 30 to 45 minutes towards Torrent Bay and follow the side track up the Torrent River.

When can you cross Awaroa Inlet?

From 1.5 hours before to 2 hours after low tide, in daylight only. Allow about 25 minutes to cross.

Do you need to book campsites in Abel Tasman National Park?

Yes. All huts and campsites on the Abel Tasman Coast Track must be booked in advance through DOC, especially from December to March.