lavici

hi melnq and all others: which points or segments of the abel tasman track would be the most beautiful to go for day walks? i read something from melnq answering in one of the posts, but can't find it...thks janine

Melnq8

I've walked most of the track - on our last trip, we were told by a local that the section from Tonga Bay to Torrent Bay is the prettiest. This section is about 7.25 miles long. We took a water taxi from Kaiteriteri to Tonga, then walked to Torrent Bay where we were picked up.

Personally, I liked the section from Totaranui to Mutton Cove even better. You have to access this section from the Takaka side in Golden Bay if you're only walking a portion of the track.

Totaranui is the final stop on the Abel Tasman track for boat and bus service, and many walkers stop here, yet the track continues on around the headland to Whariwharangi and Wainui. It's about 6.5 miles (round trip) from Totaranui to Mutton Cove. You can keep walking to Whariwharangi, which will add about an hour each way.

Keep in mind that the Abel Tasman track is tidal.

ALF

I too really liked the walk from Totaranui to Mutton Cove, but it is hard to make this section a 1-way walk. As mentioned above, the best thing to do is to arrange for a water taxi drop-off and pick-up.

It depends on what you like to do best. If you want to mostly walk along the beach, then you might consider going south from Totaranui to Awaroa Bay. This only works if the tides are in your favor, as the Awaroa crossing needs to be done at low tide. If need be, you could reverse this trip in order to start by making the Awaroa crossing and then heading north to Totaranui.

If you would rather walk around headlands and get higher up for better views, then you should consider going from Onetahuti Beach (Tonga Bay) to Torrent Bay. There is only short tidal crossing that can be side-tracked if need be.

lavici

ok i will take the tides into account, and the different milestones and suggestions. of course i will print all my entries and bind them to take them with me. i'm sooo looking fwd to doing that track and... last but not least i'm glad to see melnq here, sine i have been worried about melnq since i read last night there had been a tremor in indonedsia and hadn't heard from you. i'm glad you're ok...

capekidnappers

The tidal bits to be aware of worry about are getting across the Awaroa Estuary to Totaranui and from Tonga Bay to Awaroa. (There's also Torrent Bay to Anchorage but sounds like you'll probably bypass that if you're getting a water taxi further up the coast).

Totaranui to Mutton Cove and Separation Point you can do regardless of tide, and if you get a water taxi along the coast to Totaranui you don't need to travel over and around to the Golden Bay side. It's a lovely day trip from Totaranui to Separation Point, beaches and bush and maybe dolphins to watch from the point, then back again.
Though the others bit suggested above are all good too.

Melnq8

I realized I mispoke about being able to access Totaranui only from Golden Bay about 15 minutes after I posted, but I forgot to come back to make the correction. Thanks capekidnappers for pointing it out.

We accessed Totaranui from the Golden Bay side as we were staying near Takaka. It's a gorgeous drive to Totaranui by the way, but that won't be of much help to lavici without a car.

Lavici - Just got up (4:50 am here) and hadn't yet heard about (or felt) the latest tremor.

lavici

well thanks again to all the fodorites, and melnq i'm glad you neither felt or heard it, it's not a nice experience...
yes, i will have to use water transport and my boots to get around abel tasman, maybe i'll change my mind once i'm there and rent the car. but ¿? right now i'm in flowy state of mind.
would you all consider that seven or eight days are time enough to relax, and explore around mrlborough/nelson area? i know as of now that i'm staying very concentrated on the north of the SI for about 14 days all in all- including picton, QCT, wellington- and missing the rest, i'm even thinking of just coming from tasmania into wellington and writing off landing and staying for 2 days in auckland + the 12 hour overlander down to wellington. but...when i read some itineraries around i wonder? janine

capekidnappers

Tassie to Wellington and Nelson/Marlborough sounds eminently sensible to me. You'll only see Tongariro Nat. Park and other places en route Wellington/Auckland and get frustrated, instead of having a lovely time with all that Wellington and the "top of the south" can offer.

I'm about to head to Tassie for 3fur days, and already I know that's going to be frustraatingly short.