Full Day Remote Marine Reserve Kayak Adventure
Highlights & inclusions
1. Select date
August 2026
2. Select participants
What you can expect
This stunning trip has been tailored around the tide timetable timetable to explore the marine reserve to the fullest. As mother nature ebbs and flows so does this trip. Experience the magic of the tidal inlets. The park’s rocky coastline is a haven for a myriad of marine life and is a fascinating place to explore. Abel Tasman Kayaks is one of only three operators authorised to undertake marine mammal viewing from sea kayaks at Tonga.
Start Awaroa/Finish Bark Bay Starting at Awaroa, courtesy of our water taxi transfer, visit Shag Harbour, a hidden inlet like nowhere else in the Abel Tasman. Then paddle south, focusing on the Tonga Island Marine Reserve and its playful inhabitants – the NZ fur seal, Kekeno.
Start Onetahuti/Finish Anchorage Paddle from Onetahuti out to Tonga Island to see New Zealand fur Seals, Kekeno. Paddle south with the breeze, exploring sculptured granite headlands, tranquil lagoons and everything that’s special about the heart of the Abel Tasman.
Location
What you need to know
- Lunch is included on all our guided tours. Summer lunches are a freshly baked roll filled with local produce, a sweet snack, fruit, fresh plunger coffee and local juice. In winter we offer hot seasonal soup, home made bread rolls, fresh plunger coffee and local juice. Vegetarian and dietary requirements can be catered for, please ask at time of booking.
- Top quality kayak, paddle & spray skirt
- Life jacket
- Dry bags for cameras
- Detailed maps
- Safety briefing & guide
- Lunch
- 8.15am - Check in and meet your guide.
- 8.30am - Water Taxi. __AWAROA - BARK BAY__
- 9.45am - Arrive Awaroa.
- 10.00am - Kayak from Awaroa to Bark Bay. Total kayak time approx 4 hrs with breaks.
- 1.15pm - Enjoy lunch in the Onetahuti area.
- 3.30pm - Arrive Bark Bay.
- 3.45pm - Water Taxi to Marahau. __ONETAHUTI - ANCHORAGE__
- 9.30am - Arrive Onetahuti.
- 9.45am - Kayak from Awaroa to Bark Bay. Total kayak time approx 4 hrs with breaks.
- 12.30pm - Enjoy lunch in the Bark Bay area.
- 3.45pm Arrive Anchorage.
- 4.00pm - Water Taxi to Marahau.
- 4.30pm - Arrive back in Marahau.
- Please note this is an estimate of timings and based on our summer 8.15am check-in. There may be times when this trip will be reversed.
- Pick Up / Opening - 8:15am
- Drop Off / Closing - 4:30pm
- All Year - 1 NOV 2024 - 30 APR 2025 and 1 NOV 2025 - 30 APR 2026
- Not Operating
- 1 OCT 2024 - 31 OCT 2024
- 1 MAY 2025 - 31 OCT 2025
- 1 MAY 2026 - 30 SEP 2026
- Allow a full day
- Please bring personal water bottle, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, towel, swimsuit, warm top (wool or fleece), wind jacket, a change of clothes, cameras and any medication.
- Minimum age is 12 years old
- Please bring: a hat, sunscreen, insect repellant, warm top (wool or fleece), T-shirt, shorts, swimsuit, wind jacket, camera, change of clothes & water, additional snack food (for those of you that get hungry through the day) __Guidelines__
- Please advise any dietary guidelines when booking
- This experience is suitable for ages 12+
- Participants aged between 12 and 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult on a 1:1 ratio
- No prior experience kayaking is needed
- Change your booking up to 24 hours before the start time of your experience
- Changes are not permitted within 24 hours of your experience
- Late arrivals or no shows may result in you forfeiting your experience
- Confirmation in the form of a tour voucher will be received at time of booking
- Upon completion of purchase, please print the voucher and present on day of the experience
- Mobile Vouchers are accepted! - Vouchers can also be presented on your mobile device for this attraction
- For your information, complete Tour Operator Information including contact details is included on your tour voucher
- Availability was accurate at the time of booking however, is subject to change due to circumstances out of our control
- We strongly suggest reconfirming your booking with the tour operator within 24 hours of making your booking and prior to making other travel arrangements
