You can be picked up from your hotel / airport in Nelson from 10:15am (from *7.00am) or Motueka from 11:15am (from *8.15am). If you are self-driving please meet at 409 High St, Motueka by 11.30am (*8.30am). *Early departure times apply to all trips during our shoulder season.
You will have time for last-minute luggage organisation at the Motueka office before the launch departs Kaiteriteri for a leisurely cruise north along the Abel Tasman National Park coastline to Tōtaranui. You can enjoy hot drinks on covered or open deck areas and there are bathroom facilities on board.
After we arrive at Tōtaranui, we walk south approximately two hours from to Meadowbank Homestead through rainforest with magnificent specimens of Nīkau palm and rata. Cross the Awaroa estuary and be introduced to its fascinating history. Tonight we spend the night on the beachfront at Meadowbank Homestead - Awaroa. Includes lunch and dinner.
Once a homestead in the late 1800s, Meadowbank has been refurbished into an eco-lodge which has minimal impact on the environment. Meadowbank provides all the comforts of modern living with stunning views of the beachfront from the spacious shared lounge. After a day of walking, sit back and relax with pre-dinner drinks while a delicious kiwi meal is prepared for you in the modern kitchen and dining area. Enjoy a morning coffee and home-cooked breakfast outside on the sunny verandah to start your day.
Enjoy a home-cooked breakfast and sweeping views across Awaroa inlet, the largest tidal estuary in Abel Tasman National Park. Take in the comfortable surroundings of the lodge and perhaps a coffee on the verandah watching the movement of the tides over golden sand. Then, let your guide help design your day to be as active or relaxed as you wish with another night at Meadowbank Homestead - Awaroa. Options include exploring the Awaroa estuary on for or by kayak (up to 2 hours, tide permitting), visit European and pre-european historical sites, simply unwind on the beach or enjoy the comforts of Meadowbank Homestead. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Stay a second night in the lovely surroundings of Meadowbank eco-lodge.
After a home-cooked breakfast, depart Awaroa for the scenic walk over the forested Tonga Saddle to Onetahuti. Here, we will settle our kayaks, with full training and safety brief from the guide (if you are travelling on your own, the guide will find a suitable paddling partner for you). Weather permitting, there is the opportunity to visit the Seal Colony on Tonga Island where New Zealand fur seals breed. It's often possible to spot new-born pups here in December and January. Enjoy paddling through the clear turquoise waters of the Abel Tasman National Park as we cruise past Tonga Quarry and the Tonga Arches, where our guide will explain the history of this granite area, pointing out some of the unusual natural features and relics from the historic quarry.
Stop for lunch at sheltered Bark Bay, where you can take time out to explore, swim or relax on the golden sand. After lunch, you continue your paddle, beach hopping along the coast with picture-postcard views, including the Falls River and Frenchman's Bay. Paddle into Torrent Bay to be welcomed with refreshments and a hot shower in your ensuite room. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Experience pure tranquility during your stay at Torrent Bay; the lodge is isolated from urban facilities and far from the meandering crowds. Relax on your private golden sand beach or take a dip in the warm ocean water out your bedroom door. Your hosts will prepare a home-cooked meal while you soak in the relaxed atmosphere of your surroundings.
A day of choices! Let your Guide plan another day that can be as adventurous or relaxing as you like with another night at Torrent Bay Lodge, right on the beach. You may like to walk through breathtaking first generation forest up to the waterfalls on Falls River, canoe or walk around the estuary and visit the peaceful grotto of Cleopatra's Pool, walk to the golden expanse of Anchorage Beach and picturesque Te Pukatea Cove or relax on the beach at Torrent Bay and enjoy the comforts of the lodge. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Spend your second night at Torrent Bay and enjoy another lovely home-cooked meal.
Wake up to morning light on the golden sands of Torrent Bay and perhaps a coffee on the deck before a hearty home-cooked breakfast to set you up for another day of scenic paddling on your guided kayak and walk trip.
Depart Torrent Bay by kayak, and glide southwards along the coast to discover the pristine bays and beaches named by French Explorer, Dumont d'Urville in 1827. Paddle the idyllic waters of Te Pukatea Bay. In the sheltered Astrolabe Roadstead, paddle along the picturesque coast of Adele Island, now a predator-free sanctuary ringing with birdsong. If the wind is with you, your guide will help you hoist a specially designed sail so you can ride the sea breeze. We'll stop for lunch and a rest at any one of the bays, before we continue our journey through azure waters to the famous Kaiteriteri beach, where we make our return journey to Motueka (4.00pm) or Nelson (5.30pm - 6.00pm). Includes breakfast and lunch.
