Marahau

Golden sandy beaches, a tidal estuary and blue-green water define Marahau. Two long-distance walking tracks with different routes also begin here: the Abel Tasman Coast Track and the Inland Track. For your trip planning, it’s worth first considering whether you’re most interested in a multi-day coastal walk, a route through the inland area or experiences on the water.

Planning a multi-day walk on the Coast Track

The Abel Tasman Coast Track is 60 km long and takes 3 to 5 days. It is a one-way route from Marahau to Totaranui or Wainui. This information can help you plan the track as a separate, multi-day part of your trip and coordinate its duration with the rest of your stay. If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Marahau, you can factor the town into your plans: the Coast Track begins here.

One section of the Coast Track runs from Marahau to Anchorage. Along the way, the track crosses the estuary via the Marahau Causeway. It first passes through open terrain, then through lush beech forest with large kānuka trees. This change of scenery gives the section its own character: the open surroundings by the estuary give way to forest and its distinctive trees.

The Inland Track and coastal scenery

The Inland Track connects Marahau with Wainui Bay via Pigeon Saddle on the Tākaka–Tōtaranui road. Close to the destination, Castle Rock Hut on the Inland Track offers expansive views over Marahau Valley and Tasman Bay/Te Tai-o-Aorere. The Coast Track and Inland Track therefore offer different routes: one is described as a coastal long-distance track starting in Marahau, while the other leads to Wainui Bay via Pigeon Saddle.

The coast is a highlight even away from the walking tracks. At low tide, you can explore rock pools and photograph the surroundings in Marahau. The estuary and beaches are part of the landscape, along with the blue-green water. If you’d like to include a specific nature experience in your stay, you can add moments by the water to your plans alongside longer walks.

Kayaking tours and experiences on the water

Abel Tasman Kayaks has a purpose-built base in Mārahau and offers environmentally responsible kayaking tours there. You can explore golden beaches, bays, lagoons, offshore islands, wildlife and native forest along the granite coast. This is a different way to experience the coastal landscape than walking the Coast Track. When choosing where to stay, you can consider whether walking tracks or kayaking tours should be the focus of your visit.

Getting there and planning your stay

Commercial water taxis operate between Marahau or Kaiteriteri and Totaranui. Water taxis on the Abel Tasman Coast Track operate year-round and must be booked in advance. If you’d like to include this mode of transport in your plans, remember to book ahead. The Department of Conservation provides a car park at the end of the road in Marahau.

The Better Bus service runs between Nelson and the southern access points to Abel Tasman National Park at Kaiteriteri and Marahau. It stops in Richmond and Motueka and operates only during the summer months. For your journey, it’s therefore important to consider whether your trip falls during this period and whether Marahau or Kaiteriteri suits your planned connection. When looking for a holiday rental in Marahau, you can consider the Coast Track starting point, kayaking tours and available transport options as different reasons to choose the area.

Explore more places

If you’d like to explore more destinations: Ngatimoti, Takaka, Murchison, Brightwater, Richmond, Wakefield, Kikiwa, Mahana.

For the broader travel overview: Tasman District.