15 Tours in Nelson Worth Booking

1.Abel Tasman National Full Park Scenic Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 855 reviews · 3 hours · from $59Our pick

Join Abel Tasman Sea Shuttles in Kaiteriteri for a 3 to 4-hour cruise through Abel Tasman National Park. Stay aboard as the boat passes Split Apple Rock, Tonga Quarry, Anchorage, Awaroa, Totaranui, golden beaches, and seal colonies. English commentary, upper-deck viewing, and snacks onboard make this a simple way to see the coast without hiking.

“Cruise ship was clean. On time! Awesome commentary by skipper.”

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2.Abel Tasman: Sea Shuttle Cruise and Walking Tour Combo

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 704 reviews · 1 day · from $74

Spend a full day with Abel Tasman Sea Shuttles, cruising past Split Apple Rock and Adele Island before walking between beaches and forest. Choose a 7 km, 8.8 km, or 10.5 km route. The boat crew gives English commentary, handles the beach transfers, and keeps the return connection clear.

“The tour was good combination of cruise and walking … saw the whole Abel Tasman coastline. Great crew who kept pick up times as agreed.”

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3.Abel Tasman Vista Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 414 reviews · from $67

Cruise north from Kaiteriteri Beach along Abel Tasman National Park with a skipper’s commentary, views of Split Apple Rock, and access to the Tonga Island Marine Reserve. Stay aboard for a 3 to 6 hour scenic trip, or choose a beach stop and walk part of the Abel Tasman Coast Track for 1, 2, or 4 hours, subject to availability.

“Great little boat trip. Had a lovely chilled time however if you wanted to make it a bit more exciting you can get the boat to drop you off to do some hikes. Crew were very friendly and provided us with blankets when it got a tad windy and cold. Lovely way to spend a morning”

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4.The Family Cruiser

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 244 reviews · from $68Top rated

Meet Kahu Kayaks in Marahau at 8:30 am for a roughly three-hour sea-kayaking trip along the Abel Tasman coast. With a maximum of eight people, your guide leads you toward Split Apple Rock, sea caves, and nesting cormorants. Kayaks, life jackets, spray skirts, and safety gear are included.

“Absolutely worth doing. Adults and kids vote as fav thing on our whole trip. Brad was a wonderful guide.”

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5.Abel Tasman National Park: Sailing and Self-Guided Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 238 reviews · 8 hours · from $80

Sail from Kaiteriteri along Abel Tasman’s golden coast, passing Split Apple Rock and New Zealand fur seals, then leave the catamaran at Anchorage Bay for a self-guided walk to Marahau. Skippers such as Inky, Claudia, Frank, and Nick have led outings with friendly, well-informed commentary. Bring lunch, water, layers, and sturdy walking shoes.

“Great day in Abel Tasman National Park. Fantastic ‘guides’ Nick and Claudia, very personable and knowledgable, and a great laid back atmosphere on board. I highly recommend this trip.”

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6.Best Abel Tasman Day trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 229 reviews · from $248

Spend about six hours cruising Abel Tasman National Park with Abel Tasman Charters. Meet at Kaiteriteri or add the NZ$50 Nelson shuttle, then look for seals, penguins, dolphins, and seabirds. You can kayak, snorkel, swim, walk the Pitt Head loop, or simply enjoy lunch and local drinks aboard with a small group of up to 11.

“We had the most incredible day trip with Abel Tasman charters. The views were stunning, what a truly beautiful national park. Lots of wildlife including baby seals and rare birds. Tim and fleur were brilliant and really looked after us. The stops Read more”

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7.Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 207 reviews · 1h 30m · from $65

Ride Cable Bay Adventure Park’s Skywire above native forest at up to 100 km/h. A guide leads your 4 km drive to the launch platform, where you travel forwards and backwards in racing-style seats with five-point harnesses. The ride suits anyone at least 1.2 metres tall and takes about 90 minutes in all.

“The Skywire experience was a brilliant experience The guides checks before we went on the skywire was thorough. The views from the Skywire was amazing. the guides also told her about the native plant and trees on the wsy to and from the Skywire area. I think the price is also perfect for the experience. I highy reccommend the skywire”

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8.Skywire Adventure at Cable Bay, Nelson

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 189 reviews · from $68

At Cable Bay Adventure Park near Nelson, you ride a 4-kilometre Skywire through native forest and valleys at speeds up to 100 km/h. A guide-led, air-conditioned 4WD journey carries you 300 metres up to the launch platform, where you sit in a racing-style seat with a five-point harness. The return ride takes about 12 minutes.

“The views, the speed and the wind in your face, fabulous. Staff were super friendly and very knowledgeable”

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9.Kayak & Walk

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

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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10.Abel Tasman National Park: Cruise, Walk & Sailing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 100 reviews · 6 hours · from $122

Take a water taxi from Kaiteriteri to Anchorage Bay, walk the Pitt Head loop and Te Pukatea Bay, then join an afternoon yacht sail back along the coast. English-speaking crew such as Inky, Claudia, Nick, Frank, and Angela have led trips, with chances to swim, spot fur seals, and even help sail the boat.

“We loved the hike from Anchorage Bay and the scenery getting there was amazing. Nick was one of the skips he was neat. He and his off sider (?) Claudia (Canadian girl) just made the trip. Would I do it again... definately.”

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11.Full-Day Sailing Adventure in the Abel Tasman National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · from $167

Spend about seven hours sailing from Kaiteriteri through Abel Tasman National Park. You’ll pass Split Apple Rock, spot fur seals at Adele Island, stop at Anchorage Bay for lunch and a forest walk, and may swim along the way. Small groups and guides such as Marco, Stef, and Claudia add a personal touch.

“Great crew, memorable sights and stops and you get to swim. We’ve taken a few of these one day trips on catamarans and this one was memorable.”

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12.Abel Tasman Kayaks: 1 Day Freedom Kayak Rental

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

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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13.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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14.1 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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15.Sail, Seals, and Walk Tour in Abel Tasman

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 34 reviews · from $83

You sail from Kaiteriteri to Anchorage Bay aboard a fully skippered catamaran, passing Split Apple Rock, Fisherman Island, Adele Island, coves, beaches, and New Zealand fur seals. Then you walk 3.5 to 4 hours on the marked Abel Tasman Coastal Track back to Marahau. Skippers such as Martin add local insight, while the hike remains self-guided.

“Fun sailing day in Abel Tasman! Great way to see more of the coast and get to Anchorage Bay for the hike back. More time onboard than the water taxi allowing for more views. Sailing was fun!”

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