Abel Tasman Coast Track

Fees

Fees are charged per person, per night to stay in huts and campsites on the Abel Tasman Coast Track. There are no fees to complete a day walk on the track or for entry into the Abel Tasman National Park.

Pay your fees by booking the huts and/or campsites before you start the track.

Huts

New Zealand citizens and those ordinarily resident in New Zealand*:

• Adult (18+ years): $38 per person, per night
• Child (17 years and under): free but booking still required

International visitors:

• Adult (18+ years): $38 per person, per night
• Child (17 years and under): $19 per person, per night

1 May - 30 September:

All visitors:

• Adult (18+ years): $32 per night
• Child (17 years and under): free but booking still required

* New Zealand rates:

• "Ordinarily resident in New Zealand" means those:
  • who hold a residence class, student or work visa; and
  • who have lived in New Zealand for six of the previous 12 months; and
  • for whom New Zealand is their primary place of established residence.
• Proof of eligibility will be required for the New Zealand rate - see acceptable eligibility proof.

Campsites

1 October - 30 April:

New Zealand citizens and those ordinarily resident in New Zealand*:

• Adult (18+ years): $15 per person, per night
• Child (17 years and under): Free but booking still required

International visitors:

• Adult (18+ years): $15 per person, per night
• Child (17 years and under): $7.50 person, per night

1 May - 30 September:

For all visitors:

• Adult (18+ years): $15 person, per night
• Child (17 years and under): Free

* New Zealand rates:

• "Ordinarily resident in New Zealand" means those:
  • who hold a residence class, student or work visa; and
  • who have lived in New Zealand for six of the previous 12 months; and
  • for whom New Zealand is their primary place of established residence.
• Proof of eligibility will be required for the New Zealand rate - see acceptable eligibility proof.

Discounts

A 10% discount is available to members, staff and instructors of the following organisations, who also hold a valid 12 month Backcountry Hut Pass: NZ Mountain Safety Council; NZ Federated Mountain Clubs; NZ Deer Stalkers Association; NZ Land Search and Rescue (LandSAR); Scouts New Zealand; GirlGuiding NZ.

Discounts are not available online. To receive the discount we need to sight your membership card and Backcountry Hut Pass, so please visit a DOC visitor centre in person. If you get a discount you won't be charged a booking fee.

Bookings

Huts and campsites must be booked in advance year round. Visitors arriving without a valid booking, or staying at a hut or campsite other than the one named on their ticket, will be charged a penalty fee or may be asked to leave the park.

Book the Abel Tasman Coast Track online

What to book

Before you start walking the Abel Tasman Coast Track, you need to book: 

• Huts and/or campsites on the track – the walk takes 3-5 days to complete
• Transport to/from the start/end of the track or mid-points along the track – the walk is one-way with track ends approx. 80 km apart

How to book 

Bookings are open for trips from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

1. Decide how much of the track you want to walk and what direction you want to walk in – shuttles service the northern end of the track at Wainui, and water taxis run between Kaiteriteri and Marahau at the southern end of the track to the main beaches of Anchorage, Torrent Bay, Bark Bay Onetahuti, Awaroa and Tōtaranui.
2. Decide what huts or campsites you want to stay at. Consider:
   • Distances and walking times between huts/campsites
   • Low tide times: Awaroa Inlet can only be crossed within 1 hour 30 minutes before and 2 hours after low tide. Check the tide timetable
   • Drop off and pick up times of transport operators. Find shuttle services and water taxis for the Abel Tasman Coast Track
3. Decide the date you want to stay at each hut/campsite. Note there is a maximum number of nights you can stay at each:
   • 1 October - 30 April: maximum 2 nights (except Tōtaranui campsite which is a maximum of 1 night all year)
   • 1 May - 30 September: maximum 5 nights (except Tōtaranui campsite which is a maximum of 1 night all year)
4. Check availability of huts and campsites on the dates you want to stay. If there is no space in one of the huts/campsites you want to stay at, consider:
   • Starting your walk on a different date
   • Re-arranging your walk to use a different combination of huts/campsites
5. Check the availability of transport services on your desired dates.
6. Book huts/campsites.
   • Book online, or
   • Contact a DOC visitor centre or local iSITE for personal assistance.
   • Note:
   • Bookings are required for children and/or youth even though it's free for them to stay.
   • If you're booking campsites, you'll need to know the number of people in your group as well as the number of tent sites required.
7. Book transport to/from the start/end of the track with a transport operator. Find shuttle services and water taxis for the Abel Tasman Coast Track. 

Terms and conditions

Read the booking terms and conditions (scroll to the bottom to find the Terms and Conditions link) for general information, age ranges, prices, discounts, penalty rates and the alterations and cancellations policy. Bookings not meeting the terms and conditions will be treated as invalid and cancelled.

Booking on behalf of others

Guided groups: To operate a commercial activity in an area managed by DOC, you need to apply for a concession (an official permit), in addition to any bookings you would need to make. Read more about concessions 

To make multiple bookings for facilities/services on behalf of customers, you must obtain permission or an agent agreement from DOC. To do this, email: agents@doc.govt.nz 

Your safety is your responsibility. To have a great time in the outdoors, know before you go the five simple rules of the Outdoor Safety Code to help you stay safe:

1. Plan your trip
2. Tell someone
3. Be aware of the weather
4. Know your limits
5. Take sufficient supplies

1. Plan your trip

Be sure to consult a tide timetable when planning your trip as the Awaroa estuary area on the track is only passable at low tide.

Check with visitor centres for any track updates and important notices, which report closures or maintenance on huts, campsites, roads and tracks - also listed on Nelson/Tasman alerts. 

Walking seasons

The Coast Track is open all year. Transport, activity, equipment and accommodation operators are available year round.

All huts and campsites must be booked all year round. See booking information for details.

Chart showing walker numbers peaking between December and March

The chart (at the right) shows the number of walkers on the track between Torrent Bay and Bark Bay. Numbers peak in January with over 250 per day and drop in August to less than 25.

In peak season (October to April), DOC hut wardens and staff are based at the huts and Tōtaranui Camp Office.

In winter, wardens rotate among the huts.

The advantages of visiting the Abel Tasman Coast in the winter include fewer visitors, calmer water, less water traffic such as water-skiers, and hardly any insects.

The main disadvantages are the shorter daylight hours and cooler temperatures.

Track closure

In case of any accident or injury that requires emergency evacuation, contact Police Search and Rescue via Department of Conservation staff or boat transport staff radios.

In the unusual situation of the track being closed (e.g. in case of extreme fire risk), signs will be erected at track entrances and information will be at i-SITES, DOC information centres and on the DOC website. Check the Track Update before you start the track. If the track is closed, a full refund will be given.

2. Tell someone

Before you go into the outdoors, tell someone your plans and leave a date to raise the alarm if you haven't returned. To do this, use the New Zealand Outdoors Intentions process on the AdventureSmart website. It is endorsed by New Zealand's search and rescue agencies and provides three simple options to tell someone you trust the details about your trip.

Fill in the visitors book if you are staying in a hut.

3. Be aware of the weather

The climate is mild with sea breezes, summer droughts and some winter frosts. Rainfall averages 1800mm and the sun shines around 2200 hours per year. During late spring and throughout summer the coast is subject to strong westerly winds, while the autumn and winter months are generally calm.  

Winter

The Abel Tasman Coast Track can be walked all year but in winter temperatures are cooler. All huts have heating. Campsites that get good afternoon sun are Anchorage, Bark Bay, Mosquito Bay, Awaroa and Tōtaranui.

4. Know your limits

Challenge yourself within your physical limits and experience.

5. Take sufficient supplies

For a full list check 'What to take'

Cookers and lighting

• Cookers and lighting are not provided in any of the huts.

Wasps

• If you are allergic to wasp stings, take your medication, such as antihistamines, with you.

Sandflies

• Sandflies are tiny black insects which cause itchy bites.
• Bring and use insect repellent.

Camping

The use of hammocks, including "tree hugger" hammocks, is not permitted in campsites on the Abel Tasman Coast Track.

Huts on the Abel Tasman Coast Track don't have gas cooking facilities and lighting. Remember to take a portable stove and fuel, and candles with you.

Personal equipment

• Backpack (40–60 litre size for multi-day hiking)
• Waterproof/plastic pack liner
• Sleeping bag (3–4 season)
• First aid kit (including insect repellent, sunscreen, blisterkit, personal medication e.g. antihistamine for allergy towasp stings)
• Survival kit (survival blanket, whistle, paper, pencil, highenergy snack food)
• Safety equipment relevant to the track and time of year (e.g. map, compass, tide timetables)
• Drink bottle (1-2 litre capacity)
• Eating and cooking utensils (knife, fork, spoon, plate, cup,pot/pan/billy, cleaning kit, tea towel)
• Matches or lighter in waterproof container
• Toiletries
• Torch/flashlight and spare batteries
• Rubbish bag
• Booking confirmation letter and ID
• Portable stove and fuel
• Candles
• Toilet paper
• Swimwear
• Sandals or aqua shoes for walking in water
• Use a toilet when you see one and be prepared with a back-up toilet option

If you're camping

• Tent
• Sleeping mat

Clothing

• For multi-day walking you'll need at least one set of clothes to walk in and another dry set to change into at night. Walking boots or firm footwear (should be comfortable and well broken in)
• Socks (wool or polypropylene)
• Shorts (quick dry material)
• Shirt (wool or polypropylene)
• Under layers, top and bottom (wool or polypropylene)
• Mid-layers (wool or polar fleece)
• Raincoat (waterproof, windproof with hood)
• Overtrousers (wind and water proof)
• Warm hat and gloves
• Sunhat and sunglasses
• Extra socks, underwear, shirt/lightweight jersey

Note: It's not possible to dry clothes in the huts. Cotton clothing such as jeans, T-shirts and sweatshirts aren't suitable.

Optional

• Gaiters
• Lightweight shoes for inside the huts

Food

You can't buy food on the track.

Bring food that is lightweight, fast cooking and high in energy value. For example:

• Breakfast: cereal/porridge/oats, firm bread, honey or other spreads
• Lunch: cracker biscuits, cheese, salami, jam/jelly, fruit
• Dinner: instant soup, pasta or rice, dried vegetables or fruit, cheese or dehydrated (freeze-dried) meals.

You'll also need water, snacks, biscuits, muesli bars, tea or coffee, powdered fruit drinks and emergency food in case of any delays on the track.