Tōtaranui Great Walk Campsite

This is a 20-site, non-powered tent campsite on the beach side of the larger Tōtaranui Campground, along the Abel Tasman Coast Track. It is reserved for people walking the track and has a one-night limit, so plan it as a booked stop on the walk rather than a drive-in beach base. Book ahead; dogs are not allowed, and you must carry out your rubbish.

You can walk in or arrive by boat, and scheduled water taxis stop at Tōtaranui. Be ready to carry your gear from the track or boat drop-off; nearby parking is not guaranteed for moving equipment. The pitches have a designated fireplace and hand-washing sinks. Use the fireplace rather than making a new fire, and follow any fire bans. Water-treatment guidance for the wider Tōtaranui area is inconsistent, so bring treatment or confirm locally. The nearby general campground office has a small shop for basics, not meals; bring your food for the track.

The Coast Track from Tōtaranui to Awaroa is about 7 km one way, or two hours. Skinner Point, a short walk south of camp, opens a view over Tōtaranui Beach toward Awaroa Head. Farther along, Awaroa Inlet and Venture Creek have a narrow crossing window: from 1 hour 30 minutes before to 2 hours after low tide. Heavy rain can make the inlet impassable, so check conditions and tide timing before setting out.

Tōtaranui's story stretches well beyond this overnight stop. An excavation in the wider foredune in 1981 returned a radiocarbon date of 450 BP, evidence of Māori presence long before the campground; that find is from the wider dune, not a specific tent pitch. Nearby Ngarata homestead was built in 1914 from locally milled timber and is now used as an education centre.