The ultimate 4 week South Island itinerary

Instead, leave Picton early in the morning and drive 2 hours around the coast to Nelson.

Nelson is a lovely town with endless cafes, natural beauty and the famous Pics Peanut Butter Factory. Drop by for a free tour, or keep driving 45 minutes to Kaiteriteri. 

Kaiteriteri is a tiny little town at the southern edge of Abel Tasman National Park with more facilities, shops, and "civilisation" than some travellers may think.

This part of New Zealand is equally beautiful, with endless coastline and crystal-clear turquoise water. But, most of Abel Tasman is not accessible by car, so you’ll need to book a water taxi or shuttle in advance.

You can get these from Kaiteriteri and Marahau and choose a one-way ticket or return journey. I’d recommend the one-way ticket there and do one of the beautiful day walks to return.

To give you an idea of prices, Wilson’s Abel Tasman offers water taxis and cruises. The shortest water taxi trip from Kaiteriteri to Apple Tree Bay starts at about $45 one way. Or the furthest trip from Kaiteriteri to Totaranui is around $65-$70 one way.

Note: Although boats depart from Kaiteriteri and Marahau, book a water taxi from Kaiteriteri if you can because these boats will also stop at Split Apple Rock for photos! 

Book a water taxi to drop you off at Anchorage ($74 return) and then do the Te Pukatea Bay Walk from Anchorage Bay. This stunning 1.5 hour walk on the Pitt Head Loop will take you to Te Pukatea Bay via a native fern forest.

If you’d like something more challenging, the Awaroa to Medlands Walk (4 hours), Medlands to Anchorage via Cleopatra’s Pool and Falls River Swing Bridge (4 hours) or Medlands to Apple Tree Bay (5-6 hours) are lovely options too. 

If you have a few extra days to spare (and are good at planning), you could spend your time in Abel Tasman by hiking the coastal track. This 3 night, 4 day track covers the best sights in the area. It’s a huge bucket list experience for many people! Because it’s one of the easiest Great Walks, you could hike it in 2 nights, 3 days, especially if you have experience hiking or reasonably fit. 

After your adventure, return to Kaiteriteri, grab some dinner or a takeaway and watch the sunset from the viewpoint on the northern end of town, off to the right as you make your way out towards Marahau. This viewpoint has gorgeous views out over Kaiteriteri Beach.

If you’d prefer to go out for dinner, there are a few restaurants in Kaiteriteri and Marahau. Hooked on Marahau has stunning sea views.