Take your time to cruise in style and comfort from Kaiteriteri to Totaranui and return.
Call into popular beaches, see the famous Split Apple Rock, view sea birds and seals along the coast and around Tonga and Adele Islands.
Trip Overview
Start
10.30am
End
2.40pm
Cruise
Kaiteriteri – Totaranui return
4 hrs
4 hrs
From
NZ$84 pp for groups
Availability
1 Oct - 3 May
Trip Route Map & Information
Cruise Kaiteriteri - Totaranui return. Includes all the highlights: Split Apple Rock, seals and more time around Anchorage Beach.
| 10.00am Check in at Kaiteriteri for 10.30am departure. If you have already exchanged your booking confirmation for a boarding ticket, please check in at the boat. |
| 10.50am Split Apple Rock |
| 11–11.15am Anchorage and Torrent Bay |
| 11.30am Medlands Beach and Bark Bay |
| 11.45am View Tonga Island Seal Colony |
| 12 noon Tonga Quarry |
| 12.20pm Awaroa |
| 12.40pm Totaranui |
| 12.50pm Tonga Quarry |
| 1.10pm Medlands Beach |
| 1.25–2pm Anchorage. Pause at this beautiful, sheltered beach. Watch the fun with kayaks and boats. Look out for birds and sea life. |
| 2.10pm Adele Island |
| 2.40pm Kaiteriteri |
If you would like more beach time, please choose from our Cruise & Walk options.
What to bring
Picnic Lunches
For a delicious picnic lunch prepared for you and delivered to the boat, or to your kayak guide, please give us your order by 6 pm the night before your trip.
The menus below have vegetarian, vegan, gluten, nut and dairy-free options with similar ingredients, modified to suit special diets.
Classic picnic lunch (NZ$27 per person)
- Ploughman's Sandwich with salad and sliced beef (vegetarian option: roasted aubergine)
- Crisp Apple
- Vegetable Quiche
- Banana Bread Loaf (gluten/dairy free option: chocolate muffin)
- Whittaker's Chocolate Peanut Slab (vegan, gluten and dairy-free varieties available)
Lite picnic lunch (NZ$17 per person)
Standard or Vegetarian only
- Ploughman's Sandwich
- Crisp Apple
- Banana Bread Loaf
Onboard Menu
The Vista Cruise has a selection of hot and cold drinks (including beer and wine), ice creams, snacks and light meals. Click through to the Vista Cruise Menu.
Other Lunch Options
You are welcome to bring your own lunch. Takeaway food is available at the Kaiteriteri departure point. Please allow extra time to choose your lunch. The shop can be busy when boats are departing.
There is one public restaurant/cafe in the park at Awaroa Lodge, open during the summer months. Please book directly with them by phoning 03 528 8758.
Succulent Seafood Lodge-Based Barbecue
Available for groups of 10 to 26 people, click through for details of this very special lunch featuring local seafood (with vegetarian and no-seafood options)
Classic Kiwi Barbecue
Click here for details of barbecue lunches available in the park.
We recommend a small day pack, with the following items:
- Extra clothing. New Zealand weather is renowned for providing four seasons in one day so quick-dry thermal fabrics are best
- Sun protection. A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are essential in all weather. We enjoy the highest number of sunshine hours in the country. Our clear skies with no pollution result in a very high risk of sunburn, even on cloudy days
- Insect repellent
- Waterproof jacket with hood
- Swimwear and towel (optional)
- Drinking water
- Lunch. If it has not been ordered the day before you travel, please bring your own
- Camera. Remember to check the batteries!
- Hand sanitiser. No hand wipes or paper tissues/towels please. They create litter and clog the toilet systems.
The coastal track is well formed and walking sticks are not necessary. However, if you have weak leg joints, or poor balance, you might prefer to bring them.
FAQ
New Zealand MetService puts the Nelson/Motueka region amongst the sunniest places in the country with over 2,350 bright sunshine hours per year. Average rainfall in the Nelson region is 988mm (38inches) per year. This rises to about 1800mm as you travel north to Totaranui.
For Nelson's daily weather forecasts, visit the New Zealand MetService website.
Average air temperatures and rainfall through the year
|
Mean Daily |
Mean Daily |
Average Rain |
|
|
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 |
| Day Trips: Boat Timetable with Cruise & Walk Options (PDF) |
| Day Trips: Map and Sea Kayaking Options (PDF) |
Following Covid travel disruptions, local bus services for day trips have been suspended. Please contact us for solutions.
The easy way to experience Abel Tasman NP
Being on the wrong side of 60 and not into hiking we chose to take the 4 hour Wilsons boat trip from Kaiteriteri. Some amazing photo ops and a very informative crew who provided lots of interesting info as we cruised in and out of bays and made stops up to Totaranui and back.
There was also time at a couple of stops to get off and look around. You can even get off and catch a later boat if you wish to do some hiking. Highly recommended.