1 active Abel Tasman alert
- ClosureRoad resealing closures near Kaiteriteri, 29–30 OctoberExpect rolling closures on roads near Kaiteriteri from 6am to 8pm on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October while crews reseal the roads.Official details
Overview
About Akersten Bay
Why stop
- A quiet beachside camp with sunrise over Tasman Bay and Adele Island offshore.
Heads up
- Only three small, rocky tent pitches; limited space for larger tents or groups.
Map
Where it is
Loading the Abel Tasman map
Full mapPlan your stop
Before you go
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Abel Tasman Tour Guide
Your drive to Akersten Bay, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Abel Tasman National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
More stories near here in the app
- Mārahau and Te Waharoa
- Abel Tasman Centre
- A Fern's Hidden Generation
- 23 audio storiesacross Abel Tasman’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Kea, New Zealand Fur Seal, Little Penguin, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 43 trails, 65 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
More about Akersten Bay
A small coast-track campsiteAkersten Bay is a small beach and three-pitch, non-powered campsite on the Abel Tasman Coast…
Akersten Bay is a small beach and three-pitch, non-powered campsite on the Abel Tasman Coast Track, opposite Adele Island. It is a quiet overnight stop for people walking the track or arriving by boat; there is no road access. A short, steep footpath drops from the track to the sand. Book ahead for an overnight stay; campsites require reservations year-round.
Plan the overnightThe tent pitches sit on raised ledges among kawakawa and ferns, just above the beach.
The tent pitches sit on raised ledges among kawakawa and ferns, just above the beach. The three spots are small, with two close together and a third a little apart; campers describe firm, rocky pads that suit compact tents better than large ones. There is a pit toilet and a tap with untreated water, which needs treatment before drinking. Dogs are not allowed. Pack your food and supplies; no food service was found at the site.
Beach and island lightThe sheltered shore opens onto Tasman Bay, with Adele Island offshore.
The sheltered shore opens onto Tasman Bay, with Adele Island offshore. The east-facing beach catches sunrise across the water, while late light can pick out the island beyond the sand. From the beach, include the foreground rocks with the island to show the curve of the bay.
A possible namesakeThe bay is thought to be named for William Akersten, who arrived in Nelson in 1855 and later…
The bay is thought to be named for William Akersten, who arrived in Nelson in 1855 and later worked as a ship chandler, stevedore and marine surveyor. The attribution is tentative.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Abel Tasman
10 sightingsKeaMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
54 sightingsNew Zealand Fur SealMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
20 sightingsLittle PenguinMost seen around 9 PMSighting map
21 sightingsSouth Island KākāMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
527 sightingsWekaMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
16 sightingsTūīMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Abel Tasman. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
