Abel Tasman Kayaks
Details
Hours: 8am - 6pm
Abel Tasman Kayaks was New Zealand's first sea kayak company, founded in 1986 in the country's smallest, most accessible national park - golden beaches, hidden coves, offshore islands and wildlife along a granite coastline. We've since grown into New Zealand's largest kayak operation: 150+ kayaks, a purpose-built base in Mārahau, and qualified guides carrying 225+ years of combined experience. We're proudly Net Zero Carbon Certified and Qualmark Enviro Gold rated. Choose a guided tour, freedom rental to go at your own pace, a walking tour along one of New Zealand's Great Walks, water taxi transfers, or a fully custom multi-day holiday.
he Abel Tasman is New Zealand's smallest national park, and one of its most accessible — which means there's a way in for almost everyone, however you like to travel.
Choose a guided kayak tour. This is the pick for first-timers, couples and families and those that want to paddle alongside someone who knows the coastline properly - our guides come back year after year because they love sharing it, pointing out the seals, birdlife and quiet coves and weaving in the history and geology of the place along the way.
Want the freedom to do your own thing? Rent a kayak and set your own itinerary. Most trips need no prior experience, just a willingness to get out on the water - this one suits confident couples and friends who want independence more than instruction. Before you launch from our Mārahau base, we'll brief you on everything you need and point you toward the best beaches, coves and hidden spots along your route. From there, the day or days is entirely yours.
Prefer solid ground? Walk the Abel Tasman Coast Track, one of New Zealand's Great Walks and unlike any other - almost every section leads to a golden beach, and in places the track is the beach. Good for a single afternoon out or the full five-day journey through native forest and along a granite coastline, and because we run water taxis in and out of every bay, you can walk just one section without committing to the whole track.
Can't choose between the walking or kayaking? Combine them. Kayak one stretch of coastline, walk the next - no extra fitness required, and a good option if you want to experience the Abel Tasman by land and sea.
Just need transport? Our water taxis, Koro and Kuia, run transfers, day trips and private charters of any size, built specifically for the conditions of Tasman Bay.
However you choose to explore, you're in experienced hands - our guiding team carries over 225 years of combined local knowledge, and every trip starts with a proper safety briefing. We're also Net Zero Carbon Certified and hold Qualmark's Enviro Gold rating, because we want this coastline to look this good for a long time yet.
However you choose to explore, you're in experienced hands - our guiding team carries over 225 years of combined local knowledge, and every trip starts with a proper safety briefing. We're also Net Zero Carbon Certified and hold Qualmark's Enviro Gold rating, because we want this coastline to look this good for a long time yet. We offer halfday, full day and multi day adventures.
Location & Directions
273 Sandy Bay - Marahau Road, RD2, Marahau SI 7197 New Zealand
Cancellation Policy
At Abel Tasman Kayaks we understand that travel plans can change unexpectedly due to illness, accidents, or a change of heart. We appreciate your understanding that when you reserve a spot with us, we may have turned away other eager clients and incurred expenses for staffing, transportation, accommodation, food and processing your booking. Additionally, we prioritize safety and respect the sea and New Zealand weather, avoiding unnecessary risks.
Payment
To confirm your reservation, we require full payment or voucher details at the time of booking.
Client Cancellation:
Day Trips
Once the trip has departed, there are no refunds. Failure to show up results in full payment being charged.
No refunds are issued for cancellations within 24 hours of departure.
Cancellation within 48 hours of departure incurs a 50% cancellation fee.
A 10% administration/cancellation fee applies to all other cancellations made prior to 48 hours of departure.
Overnight Trips/Multiday Trips
Once the trip has departed, there are no refunds. Failure to show up results in full payment being charged.
No refunds are issued for cancellations within 7 days of departure.
Cancellation within 14 days of departure incurs a 50% cancellation fee, along with any accommodation fees.
A 10% administration/cancellation fee, along with any accommodation fees, applies to all other cancellations made prior to 14 days of departure.
Cancellation by Abel Tasman Kayaks
We reserve the right not to launch a trip on safety grounds if we consider that the wind or sea conditions are unsafe for the group. This is our decision. In this situation we give a refund in full.
Once the trip has commenced, there are no refunds. If weather conditions change during the day, necessitating a water taxi return, and the group is unable to return by kayak to Mārahau or, very occasionally, must be cancelled at some stage during the day, we will cover the cost of water taxiing clients’ kayaks back to Mārahau, and cover their passenger fare where there is no practical walk out option. Where a practical walk out option does exist, and clients seek to return via water taxi, their passenger fare is their own cost.
Additional Notes:
Abel Tasman Kayaks reserves the right to cancel a client’s tour in the event of non-compliance with the terms and conditions Abel Tasman Kayaks sea kayak guided or rental briefing, or relevant rules and regulations governing the Abel Tasman National Park, its foreshore and adjoining waterways. In this situation, there is no refund.
Abel Tasman Kayaks may alter the trip direction due to kayaking conditions or kayak availability. This change does not entitle customers to cancel without adherence to the cancellation policy.
In the event of third-party accommodation unavailability, we offer alternative options or a full refund.
TRAVEL INSURANCE:
We advise all clients to consider arranging appropriate travel insurance that covers Adventure Tourism. On guided trips, Abel Tasman Kayaks is responsible for all company equipment on that trip (e.g. kayaks, tents etc). On Freedom Rentals, the client is solely responsible for any loss or damage to all equipment. The hirers’ responsibility ceases once Abel Tasman Kayaks equipment has been loaded onto an approved water taxi or, where the kayak is paddled back to Mārahau, loaded onto the kayak transporters. Under all circumstances, the client is solely responsible for their personal equipment.