Marahau

Overview

Marahau is the southern entrance to the Abel Tasman Coast Track and the easiest place to simply start walking. From the road‑end car park you’re on the track within minutes, with water taxis and kayak operators working this gateway year‑round. It’s 67 km by sealed road from Nelson, with Motueka and Kaiteriteri nearby if you’re basing outside the village.

Why start here

• You don’t need a boat to get moving—perfect for day hikers and late planners.
• Water taxis from Marahau (and nearby Kaiteriteri) run scheduled services as far as Totaranui, with pick‑ups at Apple Tree Bay, Anchorage, Medlands, Bark Bay, Tonga Quarry, Onetahuti, and Awaroa. That makes point‑to‑point days easy: ride out in the morning, walk back in the afternoon.
• The first section to Anchorage (12.4 km; about 4 hours) is classic Abel Tasman: coastal bush, sandy coves, and steady, well‑marked track.

Classic day plans

• Taxi to Anchorage, hike back to Marahau: the crowd‑pleasing one‑way with beach stops en route.
• Taxi to Bark Bay, hike to Anchorage, taxi out: adds the Cleopatra’s Pool detour and a swing bridge without committing to the full Anchorage–Marahau leg.
• Walk from Marahau to Apple Tree/Coquille/Stillwell Bays and return: no boats needed if seas are rough or you’re short on time.
• Kayak–walk combo: paddle one way (seal sightings are common; dolphins are occasional), hike the other.

Tides you must respect

Two crossings on the Coast Track can dictate your day further north: the Torrent Bay estuary (crossable about two hours either side of low tide, or use the all‑tide track) and the Awaroa Inlet (daylight only, roughly 1 hr 30 min before to 2 hrs after low tide; no alternative route). Parts of Goat Bay can also be cut off at large tides. Always check the latest DOC tide tables before locking plans.

Wildlife

Expect New Zealand fur seals along the coast and curious weka on land; fantails flit beside the track. Stingrays are known to cruise the shallows at Torrent Bay, and dolphins show up occasionally on taxi or kayak transfers. Keep food secured—weka will investigate anything left unattended.

Logistics, rules, and on‑track realities

• DOC provides a car park at the Marahau road end; parking is at your own risk and freedom camping is not allowed.
• Huts and campsites must be booked year‑round. Huts have no gas or lighting—bring a stove, fuel, and a light. Water at huts/campsites is untreated—boil or treat before drinking.
• Unauthorised drones are not permitted in the national park.
• Expect sandflies and wasps—come prepared. This is a tsunami‑risk coastline: after a long/strong quake or unusual sea behavior, move to higher ground.

Best time to visit

Summer (mid‑Dec to March) brings the warmest water and the biggest crowds. Late summer to early autumn (Feb–March) is often the sweet spot—still warm but typically past school holidays. Winter is quieter with crisp, clear days; some operators run year‑round, so you can still mix taxis and walking. Low tides generally fall morning and afternoon—plan longer itineraries around those windows and confirm times with DOC before you go.