Tonga Arches Walk

This out-and-back follows the Abel Tasman Coast Track from the nearest mapped access south of Awaroa Lodge toward Tonga Arches. The stored public-track corridor is about 6.3 km each way (12.6 km / 7.8 mi return); allow roughly 5–6 hours walking for the mapped return, with extra time for any locally confirmed shore approach. The mapped track comes within about 205 m of the arch location, but the final connection is not mapped, so the route line does not establish foot access to the arches. A local visitor guide describes walking through them at low tide; confirm the public approach before leaving the formed track.

The Coast Track climbs through coastal forest over Tonga Saddle, descends toward Onetahuti, and continues toward Tonga Quarry. Expect sustained ups and downs on a formed hiking path, followed by a coastal section near the quarry. A bridge crosses Richardson Stream on the current mapped route; older descriptions of a tidal stream crossing are not used for this itinerary. This is a remote hike, not a simple beach stroll.

Awaroa has no road access. Arrange a water taxi to Awaroa Landing and confirm the return pickup before setting out. The named walk has no clearly marked trailhead: its described start is south of the lodge, while the exact public connection from the lodge grounds to the mapped Coast Track is not shown. The saved route starts on the nearest mapped Coast Track point instead.

The saved line stops about 205 m west of the Tonga Arches map pin. Satellite imagery shows dense vegetation and rocky shore between them, and no public connector is mapped. The arches are described as walkable at low tide, but the exact safe connection from this track is unresolved. Do not follow a straight line across vegetation or cliff; confirm the route locally and only approach the shore when the tide allows a safe return.

The Tonga Bay Granite Company was incorporated in 1904. Its quarry cut building stone; squared blocks and a winch base remain as reminders of the work. Granite from Tonga Bay was used for Wellington’s Chief Post Office and Nelson’s Cawthron Steps. The company had greatly scaled back by 1913 and was removed from the register in 1921.

Dogs are not allowed in Abel Tasman National Park. There is no road-side parking at Awaroa, and so arrange boat transport and carry food and water for a long day. Build the tide window into both the outward approach and return rather than timing only the visit to the arches.