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 Te Pukatea Bay
Why stop
- Crescent beach framed by rocky, bush-covered headlands
- Small, quieter alternative to Anchorage
Heads up
- Walk-in or boat-in only; no road access
- Basic tent-only camping with untreated water
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 Te Pukatea 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 Te Pukatea Bay
A small bay off the Coast TrackTe Pukatea Bay is a crescent beach between rocky, bush-covered headlands, with a small tent…
Te Pukatea Bay is a crescent beach between rocky, bush-covered headlands, with a small tent camp on the flat behind the sand. It makes a lovely beach stop on the Coast Track or a quieter overnight stay than Anchorage if you don't mind arriving on foot or by boat. There is no road access.
Take the Pitt Head trackThe track over Pitt Head links Anchorage with the bay and gives you a higher view of the cove…
The track over Pitt Head links Anchorage with the bay and gives you a higher view of the cove and the north coast. Go up before heading down to the sand if you want to see the sweep of beach between its rocky ends. From shore, include the waterline rocks in a photo to show the bay's shape.
Camping here is simpleThe camp has seven non-powered tent sites, and advance booking is required year-round.
The camp has seven non-powered tent sites, and advance booking is required year-round. Carry your own food; there is no food service at the bay. Facilities are basic: a pit toilet, untreated water that needs treating before drinking, and picnic seating. Dogs aren't allowed.
Pukatea trees and native birdsThe bay takes its name from pukatea trees growing on the flat behind the beach.
The bay takes its name from pukatea trees growing on the flat behind the beach. Rodent trapping around Pitt Head is part of the work that protects native birdlife in the bush; keep an eye out along the headland track.
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.
