Tourism & Adventure in the Tasman District

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Abel Tasman Canyons is a Motueka-based tour operator running guided canyoning trips through five canyons across Abel Tasman National Park, Kahurangi National Park and Mount Richmond Forest Park. Trips include jumping into pools, sliding down chutes, abseiling waterfalls and ziplining, with no previous experience required. During winter (May to September), the dry canyon Blue Creek in Kahurangi National Park runs instead of the aquatic canyons. Free photos and videos are included.

Canyoning Aotearoa operates guided canyoning trips in Nelson Lakes National Park from a base at 32 Main Road, St Arnaud. Run by Camille and Adrien, the company holds a Department of Conservation concession and passed AdventureMark's safety audit. Trips include jumping, sliding, swimming, zip-lining and abseiling down waterfalls, with tours ranging from a half-day Hidden Falls trip to the full-day Dry Chasm and Shift Canyon routes.

African Safaris Ltd is a New Zealand owned and operated travel agency specialising in safaris and tours to East Africa and Southern Africa. Established with more than 25 years of industry experience, the company plans small group scheduled safaris as well as customised multi-country itineraries, providing support from initial planning through to final delivery for clients travelling to Africa.

Trips & Transfers Nelson Lakes and Beyond is based in the Nelson Lakes National Park, providing bespoke shuttles, guided hikes and private day tours across the top of the South Island. Door-to-door transfers cover the Nelson and Marlborough region, from airports to tracks, lodges and remote trailheads. Tours include the West Coast Hike & Revive package for the Heaphy Track, the Nelsons Artisans tour, and the Water, Wings, Wine & Dine tour. The company is Qualmark certified for sustainable travel.

Via Ferrata Takaka Hill is New Zealand's first free, non-commercial, publicly accessible fixed-rope climbing route, located on Takaka Hill. Climbers use a series of iron steps and a fixed steel rope, allowing people with a decent fitness level to reach heights usually accessible only to experienced rock climbers. Required helmet, harness and lanyard gear can be hired nearby at Ngarua Caves Shop or from Gearshop in Richmond. The route is run by charitable society Via Ferrata Aotearoa Inc.

Sam's Creek is a conservation area in the Upper Tākaka Valley, upstream from Te Waikoropupū Springs and adjacent to Kahurangi National Park. Siren Gold sought a license to mine gold ore there; in May 2026 New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals declined the application. Since 2024, Save Our Springs and local supporters have campaigned for Sam's Creek to be included within Kahurangi National Park.

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Southern Exposure Tours is a Motueka-based tour operator offering small-group international travel for active travellers aged over 50. Founded by Nicholas White and Silvana Gottini, the company runs guided tours to South America, Central America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Galapagos Islands, with groups limited to 12 to 14 people. Google reviewers have given the business a five-star rating from 19 reviews.

Cycle Nelson, based in Kaiteriteri, was formerly known as Gentle Cycling and Nelson Cycle Hire. The business runs single-day, multi-day and mountain bike tours, catering mostly for Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park and the Great Taste Trail. It offers high-quality bike and e-bike rentals, shuttle services across Nelson Tasman, and fully customised tours, including e-bike wine tours and guided mountain rides. Bike hire is available from Nelson Airport, Tahunanui and Kaiteriteri, with its Kaiteriteri depot a container at Kaiteriteri Beachfront.

Driftwood Eco Tours runs small-group, multi-day tours into remote parts of New Zealand, including South Island high country stations, D'Urville Island, and the Chatham Islands. Groups typically number 6 to 8 guests, up to 12 on Chatham Islands tours, and travel by private 4WD vehicle, boat, or small aircraft. The company has operated for more than 22 years, connecting travellers with local communities and rural hosts.

Lake Rotoiti Water Taxi operates on Lake Rotoiti from Kerr Bay Road, St Arnaud 7072, in the Tasman region. According to its Google Business Profile, the business carries hikers by boat, runs guided tours on the lake, and hires out canoes. It is categorised on Google as a tourist attraction.

Gold Hunting Adventures runs day trips to local gold fossicking areas and a working gold claim near Tākaka, for groups ranging from families to experienced prospectors. Guides teach participants how and where to find gold nuggets using gold pans, sluice boxes and detectors. Experienced guides also cover safety practices for working in and around New Zealand rivers.

Roving Kiwi is a tour operator based in Motueka, offering campervan tours. The company describes its tours as bespoke, offering stays with locals at farm stays, maraes, and other locations. Itineraries are flexible and arranged daily, and guests travel together as part of a group with other participants on the tour.

Skydive Abel Tasman is a tandem skydiving operator based at Hangar One, Motueka Airport, offering jumps from 10,000ft up to 18,000ft, New Zealand's highest skydive. The flight and freefall pass over turquoise ocean, mountains, and three national parks, with views of both the North and South Islands. The 100% New Zealand owned and operated business has over 30 years' experience and also sells gift vouchers and photography packages.

Kahu Kayaks Abel Tasman is a locally owned kayak hire and guided tour company based in Mārahau. It operates full and half day guided sea kayaking tours in Abel Tasman National Park, passing sea caves, islands and the Tonga Island seal colony, plus one to three day freedom kayaking packages that include equipment and safety briefings. Transport is available from Nelson and Motueka.

Abel Tasman Tourism Information provides local guidance on Abel Tasman National Park, located in the Nelson Tasman region of the South Island of New Zealand. Visitors can choose from a variety of water taxi, walking and kayaking trip options, with activities in the region including walking, camping, canyoning and kayaking. The business also runs a physical information centre in Marahau, where visitors can talk with staff in person or over the phone.

Abel Tasman Eco Tours is a family-run boat tour operator based in Mārahau, at the edge of Abel Tasman National Park. Owned by Mel and Clive, who also run Tern Coffee House in central Nelson, the business offers a signature eco boat tour exploring islands, beaches, forests and streams, suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Tours run September to April.

Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures operates scheduled and private sailing tours of the Abel Tasman National Park and Nelson Bays from Kaiteriteri, using sailing catamarans including Te Harinui and Sports Turissimo's. Tours range from a few hours to multi-day live-aboard holidays, often combined with walking, kayaking or water taxi transfers. The operator is Carbon Positive Certified and won the 2026 Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce Innovative Business Award.

Abel Tasman Guides is a tour operator based in Mārahau offering guided and self-guided walks along the Abel Tasman Coastal Track. Guided walking packages include a New Zealand guide and a walking programme covering accommodation and dining. Self-guided walks include bag transfers, accommodation, maps and packed lunches. The business also arranges guided and independent kayaking, sea kayaking and visits to seal colonies.

Wheelie Fantastic is a Māpua-based cycle tour operator offering guided and self-guided rides on the Great Taste Trail and surrounding Nelson Tasman region. The company runs day rides and multi-day tours from September to April, using premium well-maintained bikes including e-bikes. Bespoke, tailor-made itineraries are available alongside its standard tour options.

Split Apple Rock Cruise runs small-boat sightseeing trips from Kaiteriteri out to the iconic Split Apple Rock, with departures at 10.45am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm and a seasonal evening BBQ cruise at 4.30pm. Passengers can feed fish, swim near the rock and get close to the shoreline. Groups are capped at 15 passengers, with adult tickets $50 and child tickets $20.

North West Horse Treks operates guided horseback trips from Puponga, near Wharariki Beach in Golden Bay. The family-run business offers rides through rolling farmland, native bush and coastal landscapes, including trips to Wharariki Beach, Puponga Beach and Pillar Point Lighthouse, plus a multi-day trek to Kaihoka. Rides suit both experienced riders and beginners. The business operates seven days a week, from 7am to 7pm.

Make A Knife offers a full-day blacksmithing activity at Higgins Park, just outside Wakefield, where participants forge a knife from raw steel using a traditional forge, hammer and anvil. Sessions run 8.15am to 4.00pm, include lunch from Wakefield Bakery, and require no prior experience. The cost is $225 per person, and booking is essential; children must be 13 or older with adult supervision.

Natural Flames offers a guided walk near Murchison, in the Nelson Tasman region, that combines a 4WD farm safari with a forest walk to a naturally burning flame in the forest floor, discovered by local farmers in 1922. Guides cook billy tea and pancakes over the flames. Tours depart from Murchison Museum, 60 Fairfax Street, and the business holds a 4.9-star Google rating from 42 reviews.

Murchison Heli Tours is a helicopter tour operator based in Murchison, offering flights around Kahurangi and Nelson Lakes National Parks. Services include heli-biking the Old Ghost Road, heli kayak and rafting trips, remote hunting and fishing drop-offs, and gear drops and shuttles for the Old Ghost Road. The company also offers a 'fly a helicopter' experience. Pilot Rob Hunt returned to Murchison in 2017.

Windows 10 is a Google Maps-listed tourist attraction in Pūponga, Tasman District, at map code FMWF+52, postcode 7073. The listing shows a 4.9-star rating from 21 reviews. Google's record lists the site's contact website as microsoft.com, Microsoft's own corporate homepage, unrelated to this Pūponga location. No further description is provided in the source listing.

Whisky Falls is a 40 metre waterfall in Nelson Lakes National Park, reached via the Lakeside Track from St Arnaud. The return walk covers 10.8 km and takes about three hours, passing through mānuka, kānuka and beech forest before the falls, which are framed by moss and ferns. The name recalls an illicit whisky still found at the site in the 1880s. Dogs are not permitted.

Classic Boat Museum is a museum and tourist attraction at St Arnaud, on State Highway 7, in the Tasman District. It displays more than 30 antique and classic power and sail boats alongside a large collection of historic outboard motors. The museum is open daily from 10am to 4pm, with entry priced at $5 per person or $10 per family. Wheelchair-accessible parking and a restroom are available on site.

Te Waikoropupū Springs, also known as Pupu Springs, sit in Te Waikoropupū Springs Scenic Reserve in the Tākaka Valley, about six kilometres west of Tākaka township. They are the largest freshwater springs in New Zealand, discharging 14,000 litres of water per second, with water clarity measured by NIWA at 63 metres visibility. Māori regard the springs as a taonga and wāhi tapu; contact with the water is not permitted.

Riuwaka Resurgence Walkway is an 800 m return, 20-minute track located at the end of Riwaka Valley Road, entering Kahurangi National Park at the base of Tākaka Hill. It follows the Riuwaka River through native bush to a viewing platform over its source. The water, a constant 9°C, drains the marble karst beneath the hill. Known to Te Ātiawa and Ngāti Rārua as Te Puna o Riuwaka, it is considered wāhi tapu.

Abel Tasman Kayaks operates from a purpose-built home base in Mārahau, on the edge of Abel Tasman National Park. Founded in 1986, the business was New Zealand's very first sea kayak company. It runs guided kayak tours, kayak rentals and walking tours ranging from half-day to multi-day trips, with over 150 double and single kayaks and guides holding NZOIA certification. Guided trips include water taxi transport to the start of the paddle.

Lake Rotoiti Jetty is a public jetty and lake access point in Nelson Lakes National Park on Kerr Bay Road, St Arnaud, within the Tasman District. Google's business listing categorises it as a tourist attraction and nature preserve, offering free parking, a public restroom, and wheelchair-accessible parking, entrance, and restroom facilities. The site welcomes children and holds a 4.8-star rating from 508 Google reviews.

Farewell Spit Eco Tours is a family-run business based on the main street of Collingwood, running guided 4WD tours onto Farewell Spit since 1946, when trips began as part of the weekly mail delivery to the lighthouse keepers. Tours include the Farewell Spit Tour to Cape Farewell and the historic lighthouse, plus seasonal Gannet Colony and Wader Watch tours, and the company is a founding member of the Nelson Sustainable Tourism Charter.

Wilsons Abel Tasman's Motueka office is the check-in point for multiday walking tours and can be used for Cruise & Walk day trip check-ins on the way to Kaiteriteri; day kayak trips check in at the Kaiteriteri Ticket Office. The Motueka team can also book trips. Wilsons offers cruises, guided and self-guided walks, kayaking, water taxi services and beachfront lodge stays at Torrent Bay and Meadowbank Homestead, and is family-owned, connected to the Abel Tasman area for eight generations.

Ultimate Descents Aotearoa has run whitewater rafting trips on the Buller River from Murchison since 1984, making it the longest-running rafting company in the top half and West Coast of the South Island. The company offers daily Buller Whitewater (Grade 3) and Buller Family (Grade 2) trips from October to April, plus multi-day expeditions on the Maruia and Clarence Rivers and heli-rafting on the Mokihinui and Karamea Rivers. Its base is at the Riverside Holiday Park on Riverview Road.

Lake Rotoroa Water Taxi operates an on-demand water taxi service on Lake Rotoroa in Nelson Lakes National Park. Based on Porika Road opposite the DOC campground, near the jetty, the business provides access to fishing, hunting, and DOC huts and tracks, and offers a shuttle service to and from St Arnaud or Murchison. Owner-operators are Dudley and Charlene White.

Black Sheep Touring Company operates as a tour operator based at 66 Aranui Road, Best Island, in Tasman District. The business holds a 4.8 out of 5 Google rating from 24 votes. It is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4:30pm and closed on weekends. The premises offer wheelchair accessible parking, and the company accepts credit card and debit card payments.

Nelson Tasman Air operates scenic helicopter and plane flights from Motueka Airport, covering Abel Tasman National Park, Golden Bay and Kahurangi National Park. Trips range from a plane tour of Abel Tasman to a helicopter tour up to Farewell Spit, with a heli transfer to Awaroa Lodge. The operator is part of the INFLITE Group of companies and holds Qualmark Gold recognition.

The Art Vault is a gallery at 57 Commercial Street, Golden Bay, in Tākaka, listed on Google as a tourist attraction. It exclusively represents Golden Bay artists, with about 50 artists and artisans showing an eclectic range of work found nowhere else. Visitors are encouraged to visit and buy from the Art Vault, and can pick up a map, Art Trail and Art Directory to visit artists in their own studios around Golden Bay.

Ngarua Caves is a series of limestone caves in the Takaka Hill range, south of Abel Tasman National Park, alongside State Highway 60 between Motueka and Upper Takaka. Guided tours run hourly from 10am to 4pm along a walkway through the caves, past stalagmites and stalactites and a skeletal display of the extinct moa. Above ground, visitors can view Tasman Bay and browse a souvenir shop.

Abel Tasman Sea Shuttles is a family-run water taxi and tour operator based in Kaiteriteri, running purpose-built catamarans into Abel Tasman National Park. Tours combine scenic cruises with walking, fur seal viewing and sea kayaking, taking in landmarks such as Split Apple Rock. The company also runs a bus transfer service from Nelson and Motueka to Kaiteriteri and covers the Environmental Access Fee on every booking.

This is the Kaiteriteri check-in desk for Wilsons Abel Tasman, used for Vista Cruise, Cruise and Walk, and guided kayaking day trips into Abel Tasman National Park. If the office is closed, guests with a booked trip can check in at the company's boat on the beach; the main office is in Motueka. Wilsons also operates two beachfront lodges within the park, Torrent Bay Lodge and Meadowbank Homestead at Awaroa, used on multiday guided and self-guided walking and kayaking trips.

The Grove Scenic Reserve is a Department of Conservation walking track near Tākaka in Golden Bay, about 8 km east via Clifton and Rocklands Road. The 40-minute return walk climbs easily through limestone blocks draped with the roots of northern rātā trees to a viewing platform overlooking the surrounding valley. Nīkau palms also grow in the reserve. Dogs are not permitted.

Hack'n Stay Golden Bay is a farmstay and campground in Puramahoi, near Tākaka, offering guided beach horse rides, horsemanship lessons and vaulting sessions on trained horses. Riders can bring their own horse or join treks to Patons Rock Beach. Accommodation includes farmhouse rooms, bunk rooms and camping, with a communal kitchen, showers and a pizza oven on site. A weight limit of 90kg applies to trail and beach rides.

Willow Bank Heritage Village is a living museum on Wakefield-Kohatu Highway, about 1km south of Wakefield, featuring more than 20 themed shopfront displays visitors can dress up and explore. On-site food options include a 1970s-style Milk Bar, a Victorian-style cafe and a 1950s Burger Bar. The village also hosts weddings, memorials, High Tea and special events, with proceeds funding its upkeep.

Motueka District Museum operates from a heritage-listed 1913 building on High Street, originally a school before its 1970 gift to the Motueka Borough Council. The museum opened to the public in November 1987 and holds Category II historic status. It presents rotating exhibitions on the Motueka District's history, and entry is free.

Kiwi Journeys is a family owned cycle touring and bike hire company that has operated since 2012, arranging bike hire, trail tours, and shuttle services along the Great Taste Trail, the West Coast Wilderness Trail, and the Otago Central Rail Trail. Options include fully supported small tours, self guided tours, custom itineraries, bike rentals, shuttle services, luggage transfer, and the Mapua ferry service. The company is a Qualmark Gold operator and a 2023 New Zealand Tourism Awards finalist.

Māpua Wharf sits at the mouth of the Waimea Estuary, a short 25 minute drive from Nelson, and is home to a collection of restaurants, cafes, galleries and stores. Visitors can eat fish and chips on the wharf, fish off the wharf, or browse stores selling local artisan goods. The Port Māpua Maritime Museum, run by the Māpua Boat Club, documents the wharf's history. A waterfront park and a ferry service to Rabbit Island are also on site.

Split Apple Rock, also known as Tokangawhā, is a split granite boulder sitting just offshore in Tasman Bay near Kaiteriteri, steeped in Māori legend. Visitors reach it via a short bush walk down to the beach, with water taxis and kayak tours also passing close by. The landmark holds a 4.6-star rating from more than 1,170 Google reviews, reflecting its popularity with walkers, swimmers and photographers exploring the Abel Tasman coastline.

Anatoki Salmon Fishing & Cafe sits on McCallum Road in Golden Bay, where visitors cast a line at Lake Anatoki and catch their own salmon, no fishing experience required. Rods, bait and fish cleaning are provided at no charge, and the catch can be hot smoked, served sashimi style, or vacuum packed. The cafe serves the fish on site with ciabatta, chips and salad, and visitors can feed the historic Anatoki longfin eels.

Whispering Falls is a tourist attraction at Aniseed Valley 7081 in Tasman District. Its listed website is a doc.govt.nz page for the Whispering Falls Track, within Mount Richmond Forest Park. The Google Business Profile records a paid parking lot as an available amenity at the site. The listing carries a 4.6 out of 5 rating from 122 reviews on Google.

Mapua Ferry operates a passenger and cycle ferry between Mapua Wharf and Rabbit Island, forming part of Tasman's Great Taste Trail. Owned and operated by Kiwi Journeys NZ, the crossing takes about ten minutes and is built to carry cyclists and foot passengers. The ferry also offers cruising options and can be hired for private functions and weddings, and is based at The Coolstores, 8 Aranui Rd, Mapua Wharf.

Kaiteriteri Boat Charters is owned and operated by Abel Tasman Kayaks, offering half day, full day and overnight charters through Abel Tasman National Park, Marlborough Sounds and Durville Island. Trips typically depart from Kaiteriteri or Marahau using charter boats Koro, Kuia and Legato. On offer are fishing charters, private charters for walkers, cruising charters, custom kayak tours, wedding transfers, and seal swimming and watching within the Tonga Island Marine Reserve.

Labyrinth Rocks Park is a short walk through limestone outcrops and native bush at Scott Road, Tākaka, in Golden Bay. Founded by an English geologist, the maze-like pathways reveal faces and characters formed naturally on the rock walls. A self-guided scavenger hunt lets visitors spot figures including kissing pigs, witches, cauldrons and a stegosaurus. The walk suits all ages, taking fifteen minutes to most of a day. Google lists it as a tourist attraction rated 4.4 from 713 reviews.

Motueka isite Visitor Information Centre is a Tourist information center located at 20 Wallace Street, Motueka. It operates as an approved DOC ticketing office for New Zealand national parks and Great Walks, and books activities, transport and accommodation for visitors travelling anywhere in the country. The centre also stocks local retail products, maps and souvenirs for the wider Motueka community and visiting public.

Golden Bay Visitor Centre operates from 16 Willow Street in Tākaka. It is featured on the goldenbaynz.co.nz website of the Golden Bay Promotions Association. Google categorises the listing as a Visitor center and tourist attraction. Brochures, maps and visitor information are housed inside The Quiet Revolution bike shop, open six days a week. The Golden Bay Promotions Association's website also links visitors to trip-planning, accommodation, activities and event information across the wider Golden Bay area.

Marahau Information Kiosk is listed under the categories Tourist information center and Visitor center, at Abel Tasman Coast track, Mārahau, in Tasman District. The listing records wheelchair-accessible parking and a wheelchair-accessible entrance, and notes that it welcomes children. Its listed website is the Department of Conservation's Walking and tramping page, which lets visitors explore DOC's range of walks and hikes.

Abel Tasman Centre is the booking office and check-in point for Marahau Water Taxis, Marahau Sea Kayaks, Marahau Beach Camp and other local activities, located on the Marahau waterfront in the heart of the Abel Tasman Village. It is the departure point for walking, kayaking and boat trips into Abel Tasman National Park, and operates as a well stocked general store. The centre is a certified Zero Carbon business.

Golden Bay Museum is an Incorporated Society and registered charity in Tākaka, Golden Bay/Mohua. Its exhibition building, designed by Wellington architect James Beard, opened on 15 October 1990. Permanent displays cover the region's industrial past, including flax, timber, gold, cement and coal, alongside exhibits on Abel Tasman's 1642 voyage. Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm.

Collingwood Museum is a small museum on the main street of Collingwood, in the former 1910 council office building, established in 1969. Its 'through the years' photographic display covers aspects of the district's early development, including home, school, gold, coal, timber, farming and military history. The museum is wheelchair accessible, welcomes children and has a restroom on site.

Abel Tasman Paddle Boarding is listed on Google as a Tourist attraction, based at 1 Harvey Road, Mārahau 7197, within Tasman District. Its Google Business Profile records an average rating of 3.7 out of 5 from 6 votes and shows the listing has not yet been claimed by the business. The profile lists a Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/AbelTasmanPaddleboarding/, as the business website, and holds 7 photos on file.

New Zealand I Drive Private and customised tours operates as a tour operator at 421a Main Road, Riwaka, near Motueka in the Tasman District. As its name states, the business provides private and customised tours, bookable through www.newzealandidrive.com or by phone on +64 27 446 3011. The premises offers wheelchair accessible parking for visitors arriving by car.

Ruhtra Travel is a travel agency operating from Kaiteriteri, Motueka, listed under Google's Travel Agents and Tour agency categories. It designs tailor-made journeys to destinations including Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, India and Japan, offered as either fully independent trips or partly and fully guided tours. The agency works with established brands committed to sustainable travel.

Tailored Travel New Zealand Custom Tours is a tour operator located at 1637 Dovedale Road, Thorpe, in Wakefield, within the Tasman district. The Google Business Profile listing describes the operator as offering private and personal custom tours across the South Island of New Zealand. Contact details include a phone number and a dedicated website, www.newzealandcustomtours.com.

all4eight is a Māpua-based clothing collaborative founded by three mothers celebrating the taiao and the region's Māori and Pākehā cultures. Designs are inspired by the founders' whakapapa and family experiences, featuring tee shirts and tote bags. Garments are made with AS Colour materials and screen printed locally in Nelson. The business operates online and trades at the Māpua wharf Sunday market during summer, with free shipping within New Zealand.