Routes — Day 1 — Marahau to Anchorage (11.5km) <photos>

Marahau Estuary (trailhead)

From the tiny seaside resort of Marahau, you need walk or arrange transport another 1km to the start of the Track. There you will find a snackbar, toilets, and a very interesting artisan crafts shop.

Estuary causeway, start of the Abel Tasman

The coastline views are great. Most hikers get a slow start, pausing frequently for photos. In fact, the Abel Tasman gets more and more scenic with each passing day. Save your film.

The first day is leisurely. You can reach Anchorage in 4 hours even if you dawdle.

Time should allow you to sidetrack to some of the posted beaches. Have a picnic. Go for a swim. Enjoy!

If you are tenting, there are options en route you might choose instead of Anchorage including:

• Appletree Bay camp site
• Stilwell Bay camp site

All tenting is first-come, first-served so — if you spot a site you like — grab it.

Parts of the Track are elevated offering wonderful views down on to the sea.

Eventually you reach Anchorage Bay. The hut has 26 bunks; the nearby campground provides 50 sites.

If you would like a smaller, less popular campground consider nearby options:

• Te Pukatea Bay camp (10 sites)
• Watering Cove camp (10 sites)

Tenters have many good options, and no rush. You can decide as you go.

swimmer at Anchorage

Plan to enjoy the beach & do some exploration once you drop your pack.

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Side trip to Te Pukatea Bay and Pitt Head:

A 30 minute walk crosses a low ridge from Anchorage Hut to crescent-shaped Te Pukatea Bay. From there a one hour walk with good views leads to Pitt Head, an old pa site, and back to Anchorage.

- from DOC website

Next day head for Bark Bay.