15 Canoes & Kayaks in Nelson Worth Booking

1.Kayak & Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 161 reviews · from $142Our pick

Start in Marahau with a guided kayak trip along Abel Tasman’s coast, stopping at islands and beaches before lunch at Observation Beach. You then follow the coastal track through forest and past streams. Guides such as Sam and Emily have helped make the water section friendly for beginners. Transport from Nelson or Motueka costs extra.

“Sam was an excellent guide for the kayaking portion of our experience. There are compartments on the kayaks to store your gear. They also include a dry bag for phones and keys. We were on the water about 3 hrs and took breaks along thRead more”

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2.Abel Tasman Kayaks: 1 Day Freedom Kayak Rental

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 58 reviews · 1 day · from $74Best value

Start and finish in Marahau with a full day in a double kayak around Abel Tasman’s Astrolabe area. After a safety briefing, you paddle independently toward Adele and Fisherman Islands, stop at Watering Cove, enter coastal caves on a high tide, and choose your own return route. A map, safety gear, storage, and winter wetsuits are included.

“Super, selbst zu entscheiden, was man anschaut oder wo man wie lange bleibt!”

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3.Oarsome Marine Reserve Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 39 reviews · from $198

Set out from Marahau at 8:30 am with a guide and a group of no more than eight. Paddle through Abel Tasman National Park to Tonga Island Marine Reserve, where fur seals gather, then continue toward Anchorage Beach and return by water taxi. Guides such as Pandy and Quinn lead the full-day trip.

“Fantastic day out on the water exploring the national park. Our guide (Quinn) was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly and made this whole day amazing. A must do whilst up here to explore incredible untouched lagoons and learn heaps about the flora and fauna”

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4.1 Day Sea Kayak Rental

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · from $74

Set out from Marahau at 8:30 am with your kayak and required equipment, then paddle independently along the Astrolabe Roadstead toward Split Apple Rock, beaches, and offshore islands. You need at least two people to book, moderate fitness, and suitable weather. The route returns to Marahau after about seven hours.

“We had a beautiful day of kayaking in this gorgeous part of the world. We'd recommend this experience to anyone who loves kayaking and discovering beautiful, secluded beaches.”

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5.Southern Duo kayak & walk tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · from $117

Set out from Marahau at 8:30 am with R&R Kayaks for a small-group tour capped at eight people. You will kayak along the coast toward Adele Island, where fur seals may be resting, then walk through Abel Tasman National Park to scenic viewpoints. Kayak gear is provided, and the day ends back at the starting point.

“Erst geht es mit dem Kayak an der Küste entlang und zufuss durch den Park zurück. Die Tour war super. Kayak ungefähr 2 Stunden. Die Wanderung 3-4 Stunden auf einem flachen Weg. Sehr nette Guides.”

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6.Mārahau: Abel Tasman Marine Reserve Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 22 reviews · 8 hours · from $212

Spend eight hours kayaking through Abel Tasman National Park with an English-speaking guide, visiting Tonga Island Marine Reserve, Shag Harbour, Tonga Arches, and golden beaches. Ed may lead your group, offering clear instruction for beginners. Tide times shape the route, with water taxi transfers between Marahau and the park.

“We had a wonderful day on the kayaks. Ed was a fantastic host who provided us with a lot of interesting information about the national park We would definitely recommend this tour”

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7.Remote Marine Reserve – Guided Kayaking – New Zealand

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · from $220

Spend about eight hours sea kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park with a professional guide, following the tide to the day’s best route. Paddle from Awaroa or Onetahuti toward Bark Bay or Anchorage, visit Tonga Island and Shag Harbour, watch New Zealand fur seals, and enjoy a picnic lunch. Water taxi transfers are included.

“Amazing way to learn about the history, geology, fauna and wildlife of the marine reserve and New Zealand in general.”

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8.Abel Tasman National Park: Cruise, Kayak, & Hike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 9h 30m · from $417

Spend a full day exploring Abel Tasman by catamaran, kayak and foot. From Nelson, you cruise past Split Apple Rock, paddle near Adele Island’s seals, hike through native bush to Anchorage, and may swim before returning. Small-group guides such as Alan, Carter, Jeremy and Lucy add local nature knowledge, with lunch, gear, transfers and refreshments included.

“Wir hatten das Glück alleine mit Alan unterwegs zu sein. Mit seiner wundervolle, lockeren, humorvollen und lebensfroher Art hat er uns empfangen und durch den Tag begleitet. Danke auch an Carter für die super geführte Kayaktour mit Kayaksailing. Ein unvergesslicher Tag mit tollen Eindrücken, leckerem Lunch, tollen Menschen und wunderbarer Tiersichtung in der schönen Natur !”

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9.Seal Sanctuary Tour – Guided Kayaking – New Zealand

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $161

From Marahau, take a water taxi toward Adele and Fisherman Islands, then kayak the Astrolabe coast with a professional guide for about 1.5 hours on the water. Watch for New Zealand fur seals and little blue penguins, stop for a beach lunch, and return by water taxi. Guides such as Ed and Whitney have led recent outings.

“We had a great half day kayak tour out at Abel Tasman! Ed was a superb guide who did a great job spotting seals and sea life while we were out on the ocean. Lunch was delicious. The company also did a great job of accomodating my spouse's neoprene allergy. Book with confidence - you will enjoy it immensely!”

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10.Three Day Classic Kayaking in New Zealand

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $744

Spend three days kayaking Abel Tasman National Park from Totaranui or Awaroa to Marahau. Your guide leads you past golden beaches, seal colonies, lagoons, islands, and Māori pā sites, with catered meals and camping included. Guides such as Mitchell, Whitney, Lou, and Awatea are known for strong local insight and attentive group care.

“From the first email to the shower at the end of our trip our experience with ATK was exceptional. Every team member was professional, friendly, helpful and great to deal with and our guide, Awatea, was fantastic. I can't recommend the ThrRead more”

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11.Abel Tasman Kayaking & Great Taste Trail Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 6 reviews · 10 hours · from $191

Start in Nelson at 7am, kayak with Jamie from Kaiteriteri Kayaks toward Split Apple Rock, then ride a self-guided 44km route to Mapua. Your day includes shuttles, safety gear, a beach picnic, bike hire, and time for cafes, galleries, shops, a brewery, and wine bar. Choose a premium eBike if uphill riding worries you.

“Loved the kayaking and well signed Taste Trail. Would not let novice riders do the 44km ride in the heat, as it was demanding in places eg a MTB course to start. Not lots of places to stop for food and drink. Beautiful views.”

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12.Kayak & Pitt Head Nature Loop – Guided Kayak & Unguided Walk – New Zealand

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $164

Spend about eight hours exploring Abel Tasman National Park from Marahau to Anchorage by guided kayak, unguided walk, and water taxi. Your guide leads roughly four hours of the day, with guides such as Brody, Darryl, Luisa, and Hayley praised for clear instruction, local knowledge, and good humor. Lunch, coffee, juice, and snacks are included.

“An amazing day out – one of the highlights of our time in New Zealand. A fantastic way to explore Abel Tasman in one day. Our guide was knowledgeable and cheerful. Only thing I'd flag up is that we could have done with some more info rRead more”

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13.3 Day Unguided Kayaking starting in the Abel Tasman National Park New Zealand

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $225

Start in Marahau with a detailed safety briefing, equipment check, and water taxi to Onetahuti Bay. Then paddle south through Abel Tasman National Park for three days, stopping at beaches for swims, picnics, and rest. You bring or hire camping gear, while kayaks, safety equipment, maps, and a camping pass are provided.

“We couldn't fault one bit of our kayak rental with Abel Tasman Kayaks! They were really professional, super friendly, flexible and helpful! The kayaks were in great condition, held way more stuff than we thought and were super easy to use! Thank you Abel Tasman Kayaks!”

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14.2 Day Freedom Kayak – Kayak Rental – New Zealand

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $128

Set out from Mārahau for two independent days along Abel Tasman National Park’s Astrolabe Roadstead. You’ll receive kayak gear, a safety briefing, an on-water assessment, a waterproof map, and a booked campsite pass. Paddle to Te Pukatea or Observation Bay, visit Adele Island and Pinnacle Island, and return by 4pm on day two.

“Such an incredible walk and we really enjoyed our two days with the kayaks! Day 1: kayaked from Marahau to Te Pukatea; Day 2: kayaked Te Pukatea to Onetahuiti then walked to Waiharakeke - big day but breaking it up made it a lot more manRead more”

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15.Full-Day Freedom Kayak Rental in New Zealand

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $77

Start in Marahau at 8:15 am for a safety briefing, then paddle a double kayak through the Astrolabe area of Abel Tasman National Park. Visit Adele and Fisherman Islands, look for fur seals, explore beaches and high-tide caves, and hike above Watering Cove if time and energy allow. Ben is one of the team members who may lead your briefing.

“We had an amazing experience! We just booked 15 min before the start it is was still possible. Fast and efficient security briefing and drop off and pick up service from the store to the beach included. There are also showers which was awesome. We definitevly recommend!”

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