13 Walking Tours in Nelson to Build a Day Around

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

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

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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2.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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3.Kayak & Walk

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

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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4.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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5.Nelson City Walking Tour – Guided

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · from $81

Walk central Nelson with local guides James or Di on a two to three-hour tour covering architecture, art, gardens, Māori and regional stories, and the city’s famous Lord of the Rings jewellery connection. The mostly flat route begins and ends on Halifax Street, with a maximum of 15 people.

“We had a great tour with James he was very informative and it was a very pleasant experience highly recommended..”

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6.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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7.Abel Tasman National Park: Self-Guided Walk & Sailing

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 30 reviews · 6 hours · from $88

Walk independently from Marahau to Anchorage on the Abel Tasman coastal track, then meet your skipper at 1:15 pm for a 1:30 pm sailing trip to Kaiteriteri. Allow 3 to 4 hours for the walk, bring lunch and water, and plan on reaching your vehicle around 5:15 pm after the courtesy transfer.

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8.Cruise, Walk, and Sail in Abel Tasman National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 29 reviews · from $127

You’ll ride from Kaiteriteri to Anchorage Bay, see Split Apple Rock and possible fur seals, walk the Pitt Head loop, then sail back on a catamaran. The 6-hour trip includes commentary, tea, coffee, and juice, but no meals, hotel pickup, or walking guide. Guides may include captains such as Mark, Marco, and Claudia.

“Sailing in and out of the bays enjoying all the Able Tasman has to offer. Sharing this time with my husband on our 56th wedding anniversary.”

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9.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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10.Anchorage Walk and Sail

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 10 reviews · from $91

Walk independently from Marahau to Anchorage Bay through native forest, then board a sailing catamaran at 1:15 pm. Your skipper shares local history and marine-life facts as you sail for three hours toward Kaiteriteri. Tea and coffee are included, lunch is not, and a transfer returns you to Marahau.

“Catamaran and tripulation were fine. But too many people onboard and walking around, so not much options where to sit/stay. Trip itself was quite boring. A bit of music or any kind of animation would improve the experience.”

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11.Brook Waimārama Sanctuary Guided Night Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 7 reviews · 1h 45m · from $34Best value

Join an English-speaking guide for a 105-minute night walk through Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, 10 minutes from Nelson. You’ll learn how predator control and habitat restoration protect native species, then listen for ruru and kiwi pukupuku, spot glowworms, and look for tuatara, wētā, geckos, and other night life. A hot drink and biscuit are included.

“Informative and enthusiastic guides. Clearly passionate about the Sanctuary. Highlights included the tuatara, glow worms and knowledgeable weta guide. Heard rustling from kiwi and some of the group spotted a baby disappearing. Group size was ideal.”

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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.Abel Tasman National Park: Waka & Walk Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 10 hours · from $417

Join a small group from Nelson for a 10-hour Abel Tasman day by waka, boat, and foot. Your guide teaches Te Reo Māori introductions, Tikanga Māori, native plant medicine, and local history. The day includes lunch, snacks, swimming time, and shared paddling framed by karakia blessings.

“Alles an dem Ausflug hat mir gefallen. Es war überwältigend. Unser Giude (zweisprachig deutsch und englisch) Angelika war super. Diese Tour würde ich immer wieder buchen. Nur zu empfehlen.”

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