Mountains to Sea Scenic Day Trip

A high impact day trip experiencing the mountain heart of Kahurangi National Park in the morning, and sea kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park in the afternoon.

Overview

At one million acres, Kahurangi National Park is New Zealand’s second largest, lying in the northwest corner of the South Island. It is best known for the 82 kilometres long Heaphy Track, a historic trail stretching from Golden Bay to Karamea on the West Coast and walked by many visitors each year. Kahurangi means treasured possession in Maori, and true to the name, the Park offers seclusion and rugged grandeur with its imposing mountain ranges, rolling tussocklands, unspoiled dense forest valleys, and remote and spectacular coastline. Together they represent the greatest variety of landforms, habitats, plants and animals of any of New Zealand’s National Parks.

The Abel Tasman National Park is the smallest jewel in the crown of New Zealand’s National Park network (22,500 hectares), yet it reflects a unique identity among the much larger, more mountainous Parks. It encompasses kilometres of idyllic golden sand beaches washed by the tidal flows of Tasman Bay, linked by an easy walking track of exceptional standard, alternating with hidden coves, estuaries and spectacular granite outcrops. Offshore lie numerous islands punctuating the broad sweep of Tasman Bay, providing sanctuary for seabirds, seals and penguins.

Abel Tasman National Park, with its sculptured granite coastline and tranquil estuaries, is one of the premier sea kayaking destinations in the world.

Trip Detail

We begin flying by helicopter from our base across into the wide expanses of Kahurangi National Park, landing at Lake Silvester or Mt Benson to view the dramatic heart of Kahurangi, depending on weather conditions. Both locations are adjacent and near the centre of the Park at around 5 – 6000ft. We then fly on 10 minutes to Boulder Lake, where after being dropped on a mountain ridge we walk back for about an hour on a rough trail to the Lake. Here the helicopter will wait beside a delightful small and remote mountain hut.

Following the Boulder Lake experience, we fly 20 minutes down to Awaroa on the Abel Tasman coast and catch a water taxi to Bark Bay. From here we kayak along the superb Abel Tasman coast for about two hours to Anchorage Bay. From Anchorage we water taxi back out to meet our vehicle at Kaiteriteri before delivering you back to your Lodge.