Motuareronui / Adele Island

Overview

Motuareronui / Adele Island sits just off the Abel Tasman coastline, forming the sheltered Astrolabe Roadstead that kayakers and small boats love. It’s an uninhabited, scenic island that acts as a natural windbreak and a beautiful backdrop to nearby beaches like Akersten, Observation, and Watering Cove.

Name and history

Charted by French navigator Jules Dumont d’Urville in 1827 and named for his wife Adèle, the island now carries the official dual name Motuareronui / Adele Island (adopted in August 2014). In Māori, it means “the big tongue‑shaped island,” and its neighbor Motuareroiti / Fisherman Island means “the little tongue‑shaped island.”

What you’ll see and how people visit

Expect golden beaches and sculpted granite headlands typical of this coast. Most people experience Adele from the water—circling it by sea kayak or boat—or from viewpoints along the Abel Tasman Coast Track near Anchorage. The island, together with Fisherman Island, keeps the roadstead calm, which is why many guided trips include a loop around it.

Wildlife and protection

Adele is a predator‑free sanctuary valued for seabirds and coastal wildlife. Day access by kayak/boat is allowed, but it comes with strict biosecurity: no dogs, no fires, and follow Department of Conservation guidance before stepping ashore.

Facilities and logistics

There are no facilities on the island—no toilets, water, or camping. Plan your breaks on the mainland: practical toilet stops include Apple Tree Bay, with more options at Akersten, Observation Beach, Watering Cove, and Anchorage. Campsites and huts along the Coast Track have toilets (larger sites like Anchorage have flush toilets; smaller ones use composting/long‑drop units). Bring your own drinking water and treat any water from mainland campsites, which is typically untreated.

Pairing with the Coast Track and tides

Many paddlers combine a circuit of Adele with beach stops on the mainland. If you’re also walking parts of the Coast Track, time nearby estuary crossings for low tide—Awaroa Inlet and Torrent Bay both have tidal windows, and DOC recommends planning crossings within a couple of hours either side of low tide and only in daylight.

Best time to visit

Anytime you can link calm paddling with your schedule works well. If you’re pairing a paddle with Coast Track sections, plan your day around the low‑tide windows for the estuary crossings so your land stops and crossings line up smoothly.