Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Abel Tasman Tours & Guided Walks
( 03-528 9602;
www.abeltasmantours.co.nz
;
from $220)
Small-group, day-long walking tours (min-
imum two people) that include packed lunch and water taxis.
GUIDED HIKE
Wilsons Abel Tasman
( 03-528 2027, 0800 223 582;
www.abeltasman.co.nz
;
265 High St, Motueka; half-day cruise $78, cruise & walk
$60-78, kayak & walk $80-195)
Impressive array of cruises, walking, kayaking and combo tours,
including a $35 backpacker day-walk and a barbecue cruise (great winter option). Luxuri-
ous beachfront lodges at Awaroa and Torrent Bay for guided-tour guests.
WALKING, KAYAKING
Abel Tasman Canyons
( 03-528 9800, 0800 863 472;
www.abeltasmancanyons.co.nz
;
full-day trip $250)
Few Abel Tasman visit-
ors explore the beautiful Torrent River. Here's your chance to journey down its stagger-
ingly beautiful granite-lined canyon, via a fun-filled combination of swimming, sliding,
abseiling and big leaps into jewel-like pools.
CANYONING
TOP OF CHAPTER
Golden Bay
Motueka to Takaka
From Motueka, SH60 takes a stomach-churning meander over Takaka Hill. On the way it
passes dramatic lookouts over Tasman Bay and Abel Tasman National Park before swoop-
ing down towards Takaka and Collingwood. The best way to tackle this region is with
your own wheels.
Takaka Hill
(791m) butts in between Tasman Bay and Golden Bay. Just below the summit
(literally) are the
Ngarua Caves
(SH60; adult/child $15/7; 45min tours hourly 10am-4pm Sep-May, open Sat
& Sun only Jun-Aug)
, a rock-solid attraction karst in stone, where you can see myriad subter-
ranean delights including moa bones. Access is restricted to tours - you can't go solo spe-
lunking.
Also just before the summit is the turn-off to
Canaan Downs Scenic Reserve
, reached at the
end of an 11km gravel road. This area stars in both the
Lord of the Rings
and
Hobbit
movies, but
Harwood's Hole
is the most famous feature here. It's one of the largest
tomo
(caves) in the country at 357m deep and 70m wide, with a 176m vertical drop. It's a
