I have experienced both the 10 day South Island adventure and the 4 day Abel Tasman getaway, and both while being different vibes were as amazing as each other!
$1099.00 NZD
Starts and Finishes in Nelson
Scheduled from November - May
Experience it all with our 4 day Abel Tasman Getaway tour
Completely immerse yourself in the natural wonders of the Abel Tasman National Park. Everyone from solo travellers to couples and small groups of friends are welcome, so join your new group of mates and enjoy sharing the outdoors kayaking, sailing, swimming, and more together. Spots sell out quickly, so book now to avoid disappointment!
Trip Details
The Particulars
Price
$1099.00 NZD
You can secure your spot with a $99 deposit and pay the rest later! Check our Terms & Conditions for more details.
Meeting point
On day 1, you’ll meet us at 9 am in Nelson at Bridge Backpackers.
Tour finishes on day 4 in Nelson at 3pm.
Availability
2022 dates
- 23rd November – 26th November
- 14th December – 17th December
2023 dates
- 11th January – 14th January
- 1st February – 4th February
- 22nd February – 25th February
- 15th March – 18th March
- 5th April – 8th April
- 26th April – 29th April
- 17th May – 20th May
- 22nd November – 25th November
- 6th December – 9th December
- 20th December – 23rd December
2024 dates
- 17th January – 20th January
- 31st January – 3rd February
- 14th February – 17th February
- 28th February – 2nd March
- 13th March – 16th March
- 27th March – 30th March
- 10th April – 13th April
- 24th April – 27th April
- 8th May – 11th May
- 22nd May – 25th May
- 20th November – 23rd November
- 4th December – 7th December
- 18th December – 21st December
2025 dates
- 15th January – 18th January
- 29th January – 1st February
- 12th February – 15th February
- 26th February – 1st March
- 12th March – 15th March
- 26th March – 29th March
- 9th April – 12th April
- 23rd April – 26th April
- 7th May – 10th May
- 21st May – 24th May
On the road
4 days, 3 nights
Accomodation type
Multi-share hostel with shared facilities
Group size
Small groups of up to 12 people
Participation requirements
You must be 18+ years old to book
Included
- All accommodation
- All transport
- All activities (outlined on itinerary)
- All breakfasts
- All dinners
- Tour Leaders
Not included
Flights to and from Nelson
Travel Insurance
What to bring
- We recommend a medium-sized bag for most of your stuff and a small day bag to keep with you in the van where you can keep water, snacks, a camera, and an extra layer handy.
- Sun smart things (hat, glasses, sunscreen) because it is ‘Sunny Nelson’ after all.
- New Zealand weather can be unpredictable, so make sure you bring swimwear and a towel, as well as warm clothes and a rain jacket
Tour staff
You will have 2 tour guides with you during your road trip with us. They will be your drivers, hosts, cooks, and new best mates!
Things to Look Forward to
Kayak around crystal clear bays (optional add on)
Walk the Abel Tasman Coast Track
Enjoy a day trip to Wharariki Beach
Hop on board a private sailing trip around the bays
Visit the iconic Split Apple Rock
Experience NZ wildlife and the famous 'Seal Colony'
Relax on numerous golden beaches
Leave your comfort zone and go canyoning (optional add on)
Explore lagoons, islands and Maori Pa (village) sites to learn about local history.
Abel Tasman Itinerary 4 Days
New Zealand’s smallest but most popular national park, the Abel Tasman is a truly remarkable place to tick off the bucket list. We will be launching this summer and below is an example itinerary. Keep your eye out for updates as this tour will sell out quickly!
We kick off our adventure in Nelson at 9:00am from Bridge Backpackers, before setting off through the picturesque Nelson region. We then make our way Motueka Town for a snacks and supermarket shop then off to the beautiful golden sand Kaiteriteri Beach for lunch. After we embark on an exclusive sailing trip around the surrounding bays of the Abel Tasman National Park. We have chartered the boat just for our group, so this is the perfect opportunity to share a drink and get to know your fellow road-trippers. After the sailing trip, we head back to the accommodation where your guides will prepare a delicious dinner for you to wrap up the day. You will also have the opportunity to experience the Marahau Nightlife with your new crew!
Accommodation: Dorm share
Included activities: 4 hour exclusive yacht charter
Included meals: Dinner
Count yourself lucky as you completely immerse yourself in the natural wonders of the Abel Tasman National Park with a free day to explore how you like! For those who want to tick off one of the great walks in NZ you can do this today! Get your legs ready and walk the famous ‘Abel Tasman Coastal Walk’, for those more adventurous we can help organise a freedom kayak rental or a guided kayaking tour (highly recommend) to encounter resident seals and explore the outstanding coastlines, golden sand beaches and beautiful lagoons. For the adrenaline junkies you have the opportunity to Sky dive up to 20,000 ft! Or try the Torrent River canyoning adventure in the Abel Tasman, simply because it has it all. Jumps, slides, floats, abseils, you name it……Torrent’s got it. All this exciting stuff takes place in a gorgeous granite canyon filled with some of the purest water you can find and wrapped in mind-blowing, unspoiled rain forest. After your epic free day your guides will prepare another delicious dinner and enjoy the night with our new crew!
Accommodation: Dorm share
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Optional extras: Hike in the national park (free), Freedom Kayak Rental ($75), Guided Full day Kayak Tours ($150-250), Torrent River Canyoning ($289) , Abel Tasman Skydive ($289-$599)
We start day 3 slightly later than the day before, to allow time for a sleep in and a cooked breakfast. Afterwards, we head straight for Te Waikoropupu Springs, where your guides explain the cultural significance of the largest freshwater springs in NZ. We allow some time to take in the beauty and magic of this special place. We then stop for lunch in the heart of Golden Bay, at the local ‘Courthouse Cafe’ for delicious food and coffee. After this we spend the rest of our Saturday at Wharariki Beach. Undoubtedly one of the most photographed beaches in the Nelson Tasman region. The scenery here easily rivals the recognised wonders of the world, enjoy exploring this wondrous coastal playground.If we have time we will stop at the iconic ‘Muscle Inn’ serving fresh, wholesome snacks with beers and cider brewed on site. before we head back to Marahau where your guides will prepare the final dinner for the group.
Accommodation: Dorm share
Included activities: Optional day trip to visit Te Waikoropupu Springs and Wharariki Beach.
Included meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Optional extras: Hike in the national park (free) or try a full day of Abel Tasman Canyoning ($289)
It may be the last day but we aren’t finished yet! Start your day with big cooked breakfast and pack to leave our new home in Marahau. We head straight to the ‘Riuwaka Resurgence’ where your guides explain the cultural significance of this sacred place. Experience the beauty of the clear turquoise waters and lush native forest before we make our way to Mapua Wharf, one of Nelson Tasman’s most popular dining, shopping and recreation attractions, overlooking the picturesque Waimea Estuary. You’ll find adventurous souls jumping from the wharf into the tidal current below. We have our last lunch here as a group before making the final leg of the journey back to Nelson city centre. We will be able to drop guests off at Nelson Airport at 3pm at the latest so if you are booking flights this day please make sure they are departing after 4pm
Included activities: Visit Riuwaka Resurgence and Mapua Wharf
Included meals: Cooked Breakfast
Some Important Details
- Flights to Nelson are not included
- COVID restrictions/changes or cancellations to your booking
- All cancellations of bookings by you must be made in writing. We will not regard a booking as cancelled unless an email written notice has been received by us from you.
- Cancellation can only be made up to 7 days before the departure of your tour. Once the cancellation is accepted a refund of the total ticket price (minus the $99 deposit) will be paid to you. The refundable portion does not include the non-refundable $99 deposit.
- No refunds will be available for cancellations within 7 days of the departure date.
- We recognise that our current tours may require flexibility around cancellations during this evolving global situation. As such, if your travel arrangement to the meetup zone has been affected due to COVID Alert level restrictions your tour purchase will be 100% refundable (excl. any credit card fees).
Yes, bring insect repellent or eat marmite 2 weeks prior.
Yes there is potential of getting slightly wet, and completely submerging in water.
Unfortunately not on this tour. We will be staying at an epic boutique hostel in Marahau.
Yes, bring along a rain jacket and an extra warm (wool/fleece) layer of clothing. Marine life is more active on rainy days.
We aim to spend 2-3 hours kayaking on day 2.
You can easily fit the equivalent of approximately two large packs full of equipment in the dry storage areas of a double sea kayak (at least 225L). This needs to be put inside large plastic bags to fit into the hatches.
A minimal level of fitness is required for our tours and sea kayaking trips. The pace is always adjusted to suit the group and we have frequent comfort stops. Guides instruct clients on easy ways to paddle and you will rapidly develop your skills. Enthusiasm is more important than fitness.
For walking the track, firm footwear is required, but boots are not essential, walking sandals or sports shoes are fine.
Some Lovely Words From Past Roadies
Abel Tasman was my second Backyard Roadies experience and just like the South Island tour, it was INCREDIBLE. I got to see another stunning piece of New Zealand I hadn’t before, sail, swim, kayak, meet incredible people and reunite with others, make new friends and just have an epic time!
My sister and I did the 4 day Abel Tasman getaway and we honestly had the most incredible time! All of the guides were phenomenal in making sure it was a trip to remember! We’re already thinking about signing up for another one.
Fantastic experience and worth every cent. Jason has very in depth knowledge on all the spots and will take you to a number of different locations you probably wouldn’t normally go to. Thoroughly recommend it for anyone considering it!
Isaac and Jason really were able to capture the essence and beauty of the land, keeping it wholesome, epically fun and adventurous! Definitely recommend Backyard Roadies!
