Independent guides provides the most equipment to get you ready for sea kayaking.

Best of all, Mitch makes sure you're sea-worthy, with an in-depth briefing, before letting you go out to sea by yourself. Independent guides also has perhaps the best rate for freedom kayak hires at the Marahau/Abel Tasman NP area. Highly recommended.

Reviewed about 5 years ago

We did kayaking in the low season, (May).

Almost all the equipment was thrown on the ground, badly kept, dirty, full of holes. If you keep the activity open even in the low season, you need to have equipment ready. Not all around the property and dirty. We had to look for gloves (broken), shoes (broken) between leaves, sand and dirt. 6/10 Just because the place was beautiful, a beautiful day with the sun. Otherwise it was a 3/10. I repeat, if you keep it open, you need to be ready to receive the customer. Equipment too old anyway.

Reviewed over 5 years ago

We had a great experience with Independent Guides Sea Kayaking.

My husband and I were staying at the Old Macdonald holiday park and due to the logistical convenience (literally right next door) we used this kayaking service. It did not start out as a weather friendly morning but our guide, Troy, was positive and got our moods up in no time. He truly made our experience feel like an adventure and was positive the weather would change, in due time. He knew the Abel Tasman coastline extremely well. Giving us knowledge about the animals, fish, forestry and history of the area, etc. He honestly made this experience a 10 for us. And he was right, the weather turned out to be beautiful come afternoon! Mitch, the owner, hosted a barbecue that evening for those of us that took part in the days kayaking. It was so fun and nice to catch up with everyone, including the tour guides. He grilled chicken, sausages, chips donuts, and even provided beers and soda and supplied everything free of charge. We also had cockles that are specific to this area and were delicious! It was a perfect way to end the day. I feel for the individuals previously that posted a negative review but I can say with 100% confidence we had the exact opposite experience. Would do it again in a heartbeat! Thanks Troy and Mitch!

Reviewed almost 7 years ago

Really nice staff, great instructions.

Amazing views and little beaches to go to. Very long day and pretty tiring but worth it.

Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

Great experience for a couple of out of town kayakers.

We did a 3-day kayak hire with Independent Guides. We were fortunate enough to stumble upon them as we stayed at Old McDonald's farm to camp (where Independent is also housed). They have the best prices that we saw, and offered all the gear that we needed. I must say, their fleet and gear are a bit weathered, but all fully functional and more than adequate for use.

Reviewed over 11 years ago

We had a great experience with this company.

Good equipment (though gloves and boots could use replacing), great kayak and gear, good service and nice owner. Highly recommended!

Reviewed about 5 years ago

We did kayaking in the low season, (May).

Almost all the equipment was thrown on the ground, badly kept, dirty, full of holes. If you keep the activity open even in the low season, you need to have equipment ready. Not all around the property and dirty. We had to look for gloves (broken), shoes (broken) between leaves, sand and dirt. 6/10 Just because the place was beautiful, a beautiful day with the sun. Otherwise it was a 3/10. I repeat, if you keep it open, you need to be ready to receive the customer. Equipment too old anyway.

Reviewed over 5 years ago

We had a great experience with Independent Guides Sea Kayaking.

My husband and I were staying at the Old Macdonald holiday park and due to the logistical convenience (literally right next door) we used this kayaking service. It did not start out as a weather friendly morning but our guide, Troy, was positive and got our moods up in no time. He truly made our experience feel like an adventure and was positive the weather would change, in due time. He knew the Abel Tasman coastline extremely well. Giving us knowledge about the animals, fish, forestry and history of the area, etc. He honestly made this experience a 10 for us. And he was right, the weather turned out to be beautiful come afternoon! Mitch, the owner, hosted a barbecue that evening for those of us that took part in the days kayaking. It was so fun and nice to catch up with everyone, including the tour guides. He grilled chicken, sausages, chips donuts, and even provided beers and soda and supplied everything free of charge. We also had cockles that are specific to this area and were delicious! It was a perfect way to end the day. I feel for the individuals previously that posted a negative review but I can say with 100% confidence we had the exact opposite experience. Would do it again in a heartbeat! Thanks Troy and Mitch!

Reviewed almost 7 years ago

Sadly, this is not a good review.

Background: Got up very late, so knew we by far had missed the full day kayak tours, but asked the selling agent if it was possible to do half a day. That was no problem, he spoke good about doing half a day and gave us a discount - seemed very eager to sell the half day kayak to my wife and I.

Got down to the place at Old McDonalds Farm and was met by our "guide" (a young guy, no need to mention names). He seemed in a hurry, but did not explain why, so initially we did not understand we had to hurry (because of the tide coming in we found out later). We prepared some food for the kayak, put sunscreen on etc. Apparently our guide thought we were slow (although he had not told us to hurry) and got pissed, so from then on he was very rude, commanding and in no way welcoming. He even at one time said that we were "bad timing" because he had been on a lunch break! (Nice way to treat a customer :-) Funny thing was that we in no way pushed for going on the trip, we just asked and the selling agent was very positive. If it was such a problem, they could just have said no. He told us, we needed an hour for instructions on the beach, but because we were in such a hurry, we only got 10 minutes of very poor instructions before we were asked to get into the kayak and go off. Simply not okay, and they even advertise to have the best and safest instructions.

Anyway, we got on the water and joked about the guide maybe had been hangry because of the missed lunch. I honestly exspected an apology when we got back some hours later, but our guide continued being very rude, switching between ignoring us and insulting us. We were pretty shocked so decided we just wanted to get away - in hindsight I should have sat down with our guide and told him what I write above, but we simply just wanted to get away.

A shame, because the kayaking we got to do was lovely!

Reviewed almost 8 years ago

Really nice staff, great instructions.

Amazing views and little beaches to go to. Very long day and pretty tiring but worth it.

Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

Great experience for a couple of out of town kayakers.

We did a 3-day kayak hire with Independent Guides. We were fortunate enough to stumble upon them as we stayed at Old McDonald's farm to camp (where Independent is also housed). They have the best prices that we saw, and offered all the gear that we needed. I must say, their fleet and gear are a bit weathered, but all fully functional and more than adequate for use.

Reviewed over 11 years ago

It was very generous of you to take us back to Marahau in your kayaks when we expected to be walking back.

It was a great experience, thankyou for that.

We especially appreciated your local knowledge and skill. We will not forget the experiece of changing seats on the water-LOL Thank you! Nathalie and Luise from Germany and from Pete in Nelson

Reviewed about 13 years ago

Good value for money but but may need new equipment as some is older than other companys on the water.

Reviewed over 13 years ago

Freedom rental - friendly staff, all gear provided, good kayaks, cheapest at Marahau.

- late start and wait time.

Reviewed over 13 years ago