Frequently Asked Questions: Overnight Trips
To help plan your overnight guided walk or sea kayaking trip with Wilsons Abel Tasman here are some of the most commonly asked questions:
When is the best time to travel?
Abel Tasman National Park is a great place to visit any time:
- Highest number of sunshine hours in NZ year round
- Rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year
- Most NZ trees are evergreen, so our native forest is colourful in all seasons.
Our busiest time is January/February. Outside of these times the Park is just as spectacular. During our cooler months (April to September) days are often sunny and calm. This is the best time for photography and viewing the wildlife. Our Beachfront Lodges have open fires and are centally heated, so are cozy year-round.
What will the weather be like?
NZ Met Service puts the Nelson/Motueka area amongst the sunniest places in the country with over 2,350 bright sunshine hours per year. Average rainfall in the Nelson region is 988 mm (38 inches) per year. This rises to about 1800mm as you travel north to Totaranui.
| Mean Daily Max. Temps (C/F) |
Mean Daily Min. Temps (C/F) |
Average Rain Days (>1mm) |
|
| Summer(Dec/Jan/Feb) | 22/72 | 13/55 | 6 |
| Autumn(Mar/Apr/May) | 18/64 | 8/46 | 8 |
| Winter(Jun/Jul/Aug) | 13/55 | 3/37 | 10 |
| Spring(Sept/Oct/Nov) | 17/63 | 7/45 | 10 |
What time do we start on the first day?
We usually start our trip at Kaiteriteri or Marahau around 10am. Our coach picks you up from your accommodation in Nelson between 7.30am and 8.00am. If you are not able to stay in the Nelson area the night before your trip, contact us to arrange a later time for you to meet your group.
What time do we finish on the last day?
Our coach picks you up from Marahau or Kaiteriteri to return to our Motueka office by about 4pm. The coach always gets to Nelson by 5.30pm. This ensures you will be able to catch flights out of Nelson. If your travel plans require an earlier arrival in Motueka or Nelson, we can easily arrange this. Contact us.
What is the size of a guided group?
Torrent Bay Lodge has 13 twin/double rooms. Meadowbank Homestead - Awaroa has 12 twin/double rooms and 2 self-contained cottages. We have a ratio of 8 kayakers to one guide, and 12 walkers to one guide.
What should I bring?
Click on What to Bring
What type of shoes should I take?
For overnight trips in Abel Tasman National Park, you will need three sets of footwear:
1. Comfortable walking shoes - the Abel Tasman Coastal Track is well-formed and heavy hiking boots are not necessary. Some people walk the track in sport sandals, but that is only recommended if you know you are comfortable with minimal support for your feet.
2. Estuary crossing shoes - there will be some tidal estuary crossings where your feet will get wet. Rock and shells in the estuary sand can be very hard on bare skin. Wet sand sucks onto shoes, making it very difficult to walk in loose fitting footwear. Recommended: rubber water shoes, light sneakers, sport sandals. Not recommended: bare feet or any footwear not firmly fixed to your foot (eg. flip flops, scuffs, jandals, slides, slip-ons etc.)
3. Light shoes or slippers to wear in the lodges.
What do you supply?
As well as a wonderful holiday experience, with skilled, friendly guides, chefs and boat crew, we supply: - ALL food (from lunch on the first day, breakfasts, dinners, morning and afternoon teas) - All linen (bedding and towels) at the lodges - 750ml water bottle - Waterproof plastic liners for bags - For kayakers, all technical and safety equipment is provided, including stable double kayaks, water resistant paddling tops, bouyancy vests, dry bags. - We give you a Lodge Luggage Bag to keep and Day packs are available to borrow
What meals are included?
From morning tea on Day 1 to lunch on your final day, all meals are included: full breakfast, morning and afternoon teas, packed lunch (including snack bars and chocolate) and dinner created by our chef and prepared by fully trained staff. Fresh fruit is freely available.
Will I need to take any cash?
You will not need any extra money at our lodges. Local beer and wine is available to purchase so we keep an account for you to be paid at the end of your trip when you return to our office. There may be time to visit a local bar or cafe on the edge of the National Park at the end of your trip. You will need a small amount of money if you wish to buy anything there. Tea and coffee on board the Vista Cruise is free of charge for our overnight guests. Soft drinks are available to purchase on board.
How fit do I have to be?
Walking and kayaking are physical activities, but paddling requires very little skill or strength (see next question) and the Abel Tasman Coast track is very well formed with long flat sections and a few easy grade uphill and downhill sections (the highest point of the track is under 200 metres). You are welcome to travel on one of our boats to shorten your day's paddling or walking. Our five-day itineraries include an extra day at our two beachfront lodges where you can relax and do nothing or allow your guide to plan further exploration of the National Park at a level of activity to suit you.
How much experience do I need to kayak?
When conditions are calm, sea kayaking is easy and very little skill or strength is required. Abel Tasman is renowned for its protected coastline but it is impossible to guarantee the conditions. It might be necessary to paddle against the wind to the nearest beach. Our guides provide full training and if their instructions are followed kayaking is safe and fun. Double kayaks are used for stability and the advantage of having two people sharing the paddling effort. If you find you do not enjoying kayaking, you are welcome to join the guided walk or travel on one of our boats.
Should I book the kayaking or the walking option?
If you book the walking option, it is not always possible to change to the kayaking option at short notice because kayaking requires more organisation of specialist equipment. If you are unsure about kayaking, but would like to give it a try, book the kayaking trip remembering that kayaking each day is optional. You can join our guided walkers or travel on one of our boats if you find that kayaking is not for you. Our five-day guided walks can include optional sheltered water canoeing on days 2 and 4 - a good introduction to kayaking.
Can I kayak on my own?
Double kayaks are used for their ease of handling, stability, carrying capacity and advantage of having two people sharing the paddling effort. Single travellers will be matched with a suitable paddling partner, or a guide. As single kayaks are more difficult to control and much less stable, guests are not usually permitted to use them unless prior arrangements have been made. To use a single kayak, a guest must show kayak log books proving previous sea kayaking experience in all weather conditions, and ability to self-rescue.
Can I walk independently?
We are happy to cater for guests who choose to walk alone, planning their own day but who require the comfort of a lodge at day's end. We can provide you with a comprehensive set of track notes and maps to guide you along the way, and we will provide all the support you need.
Where is the best place to stay the night before our trip with you?
If you let us know where you will be staying the night before you travel with us, we will drop off pre-trip information and your overnight luggage bag at most accommodation providers between Nelson and Motueka. If you choose to stay north of Motueka, in Kaiteriteri or Marahau, we ask that you call into our office to pick up your pre-trip package before your departure day. Our bus starts in Nelson and picks up all guests on the way to Motueka on the morning of your departure.
What happens to my luggage?
Your overnight luggage is transported to our lodges by launch. Therefore we do require you to re-pack your luggage into the overnight bag we supply for you to keep (a sports bag 47cm x 35cm x 25cm). Any luggage not required on your trip (including valuables) can be left in secure storage at our office in Motueka. If you let us know where you are staying in the Nelson/Motueka area the night before you travel with us, we will deliver your overnight bag, plastic liners and clothing list to your accommodation. On the morning of your departure, we stop at our Motueka office where you can store luggage (there is time to repack your bags) and we can lend you a day pack if required.