Water Transport

Getting on the Water in Abel Tasman

The water taxis in Abel Tasman aren't just transport - they're genuinely the best way to unlock the park. The standard move is to take a sea shuttle up the coast and walk sections back, or mix in a kayak day and get picked up at the end. If you're doing the Full Park cruise with Wilsons, you can use promo code RANKERS for 15% off, which is a solid saving on what's already a pretty good way to see a lot of coastline in a few hours. Get on the water early - conditions are generally better in the morning and the popular spots like Split Apple Rock get genuinely busy once the boats start running mid-morning.

Promo code RANKERS - good deal done!

Abel Tasman Sea Shuttle

Promo code RANKERS. Save 10%

4.3 399 reviews

Wilsons Abel Tasman

Promo code RANKERS. Save 15%

4.1 243 reviews

Timing Is Everything

If you're planning to use water taxis to drop into remote campsites or access the northern end of the park around Totaranui, mid-March to mid-May is a sweet spot. The sea is generally calmer, the seal pups have grown up a bit, and the peak-season crowds have thinned right out. Avoid the Dec 27 to Jan 20 window if you can - the water gets busy and it loses some of its appeal. The one-way trip option, where you head up by water taxi and walk back over a couple of days, is a particularly good way to do it.