Abel Tasman Guides

08/08/2025

Spring Walks in the Abel Tasman National Park – October & November 🌿
If you’re planning to walk the Abel Tasman Coast Track in spring, October and November are some of the best months to visit. This is when the native forest bursts into fresh green growth, the mornings and evenings are crisp, and the daytime temperatures are perfect for walking — cool enough to keep a steady pace without overheating. 🕶🌤🌊
Another bonus of spring in the Abel Tasman? Fewer people on the track. You might find yourself completely alone on some of the golden sandy beaches, giving you space for peace, tranquillity, and time to soak in the beauty of New Zealand’s smallest national park. 🏝
For the adventurous, a quick swim in the Abel Tasman is still on the cards. The water is refreshingly cool, so most spring swims are brief dips — a bracing, invigorating jolt to the senses that’s surprisingly good for your health and wellbeing. 🏊🏊‍♂️
Spring can also bring rain, so come prepared with good gear. Walking in the rain under the lush canopy of native trees is a magical experience in itself — the earthy scents of the forest intensify, bird calls echo through the bush, and the track feels even more alive.🌦☔️
Whether you’re here for the multi-day Great Walk or a shorter day trip, October and November offer a special combination of mild weather, stunning scenery, and fewer crowds. 😊👍
See you soon on the track!

13/02/2025

Next up on our “Meet the wildlife of the Abel Tasman” series, meet the Kererū/ NZ Wood Pigeon 🐦

The Kererū is considered one of the largest pigeons in the world. They can measure up to 51 cm from tail to beak & weigh approximately 650g.

These birds are the only bird species big enough to swallow large fruit, playing a vital role in keeping our forests thriving, dispersing seeds such as miro, tawa and nikau seeds over long distances. If these birds were to disappear, this would threaten the regeneration of our native forests.

Kereru follow their stomachs & love a hearty feast on the fruits of the park. Their colourings not only make them distinct but also the sound of their wing beats - you can hear them a mile away! (as the saying goes).

These birds are considered nationally vulnerable, like many others in the park (mainly due to predators). The kereru's feathers were also historically used to make Mãori cloaks in the 19th century.

Be sure to keep an eye & ear out for these beautiful birds!

02/02/2025

So proud to be a founding member and part of this!!! 🥰😍👏

A collective vision by Mārahau businesses is thriving and giving back to the community and environment that has sustained them.

30/01/2025

Meet the Wildlife residents of the Abel Tasman, featuring the Kaka bird 🐦

Kaka are large, forest-dwelling parrots that are found in the Abel Tasman. Up until quite recently, kaka had been declared effectively extinct. Fortunately, around 10,000 of these beautiful birds are now thriving throughout both the North and South Island and 40 of these kaka are found to be living in the Abel Tasman National Park (Jan, 2023).

Their decline in numbers had been largely attributed to predators such as stoats and possums who prey on kaka eggs & their young chicks. Kaka are most abundant on offshore islands where they is little to no threat from predators to their survival.

Reintroduction programmes have helped build up these numbers again tremendously, not just in the Abel Tasman but throughout New Zealand.

Department of Conservation & Project Janszoon (to name a few) have established successful breeding programmes over the years. Project Janszoon's mission is to restore thriving populations of kaka back into the Abel Tasman 🌴🌴☀️

13/01/2025

Another special way to explore the Abel Tasman is by kayaking! 🛶 It gives people another unique vantage point of the park and if you’re lucky enough, you may encounter some of our treasured wildlife 🐬 🦭 🐳

07/01/2025

POV being a walking guide on the Abel Tasman track highlights 😆 (1) taking photos of guests taking photos (2) meeting amazing human beings (3) chasing weka along the track (payback for all those stolen items!!) (4) creating our own Split Apple Rock (5) getting guests to take off their shoes and socks and walk barefoot across the beaches and in the water (6) spotting green & blue kayaks amongst the yellow ones (7) turning on perfect weather days!! We love this stunning park 🥰😍

03/01/2025

One of the highlights of our jobs here at ATG is receiving feedback from our guests of their trips.

The appreciation they show (which we very much appreciate) is not only a reflection of fantastic teamwork but is also a reflection of our wonderful guests that choose us - so thank-you from us all ♥️

Here is an excerpt from some very lovely feedback that we received recently:

“I just wanted to send a message to say Thank You for a magnificent time in Abel Tasman National Park.

Every bit of the trip was fantastic and made possible by the team at Abel Tasman Guides!

The accommodations were lovely and exactly what we needed after days of hiking and exploring the park. It was simply luxurious to come in dirty and dusty and be met with a hot shower and comfortable bed. The food was delicious in every location that was booked by AT Guides.

We had a chance to see secluded beaches and view wildlife in a way that I didn't think was possible. Over the course of our few days we saw penguins, fur seals, kaka, fantail, bellbird, tui, takahe, oystercatchers, pied s**g, shortfin eels, and many others.

I don't think I have ever enjoyed trail food as much as the packed lunches that were provided each day.

Your guides were very helpful and informative. Between Becky, who provided a comprehensive briefing before starting us out on our first day, and Jen, who was so accommodating and allowed a later pickup from Wainui so we could make it out to Separation Point without rushing the hike, the AT Team provided top notch service.

I would be remiss not to include Uli in my thanks. He was wonderful with giving us rides to and from Marahau along with a short introduction to the trailhead and restaurants. Uli even was kind enough to drop off my husband's cell phone after it was accidentally left in the van on our return trip to Nelson. What incredible customer service!

I will be absolutely recommending Abel Tasman Guides to everyone I know who is considering a trip to New Zealand.

Thank you so very much for the trip of a lifetime.”

- Lee & Carey Smith, USA

31/12/2024

Happy New Years from the ATG team! If you’re having a big night out celebrating or are staying nice and cosy at home, there are many great ways to welcome the New Year in 🥰

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas from the team here at Abel Tasman Guides 🎄Wishing you all a wonderful day filled with loved ones and yummy food 🥰

19/12/2024

It's been pretty special to have this iconic NZer spend 5 days with us in the Abel Tasman park recently 😎 a genuinely lovely human being that has touched the lives of so many of us!! Thank you Simon Barnett 👏 He left us this message "Hi team, thank you so much for all the organising. I had an incredible time! The scenery is jaw dropping at every turn! Accommodation was super lovely, the packed lunches delicious and the attention to detail in terms of mapping and directions was exceptionally helpful. We do live in the most incredible country that is for sure! Also Merisha, Uli and Josh (kayak at awaroa) and Jen my driver to Pohara were just awesome people and so good at their jobs… They were the best!!" 🙌🙌🙌

17/12/2024

Can you take a guess what part of the national park this photo was taken in? 😉