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Abel Tasman National Park
Grade: Medium
Event Status: Completed Hits : 1350
To Sunday 13 April 2025
Cost: $22
Trip Leader:
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Description
Walk the Inland Track, doing a car swap. Start from Marahau and Wainui carparks.
Stay in Castle Rock (8 bunks) and Awapoto Huts (12 bunks). Both $10 or hut pass, both with heating, no bookings required.
3 days walking of 5.5 to 6hrs each day, plus possible sidetracks. The track is marked, but the terrain much rougher than the coastal track. And fewer crowds!
More track details going South - North:
day 1)
Marahau to Castle Rock Hut
Time: 5 hr 30 min
Distance: 15.1 km
From Marahau follow the Coast Track to Tinline Bay. Here the Inland Track begins, climbing steadily away from the coast and then steeply through regenerating forest.
After 2 h 30 min Holyoake Clearing is reached, where there is a shelter. Above the clearing the track enters forest and continues climbing to Castle Rock Hut, perched near rock outcrops with wide views of Marahau Valley and Tasman Bay/Te Tai-o-Aorere.
day 2)
Castle Rock Hut to Awapoto Hut
Time: 6 hr
Distance: 13 km
The track heads northwards from Castle Rock Hut, then turns west and begins climbing. The gradient steepens and then levels again. The track then undulates for a while before descending to Moa Park Shelter (it’s 2 h, 3.5 km to this point), surrounded by the tussocks of Moa Park itself. There are two side tracks leading to lookouts; Porter Rock is a granite outcrop worth visiting for its excellent views.
From Moa Park Shelter the track crosses a small stream and quickly re-enters the stunted beech forest. Upon reaching Evans Ridge it turns north, beginning a gradual descent to Awapoto Hut.
day 3)
Awapoto Hut to Pigeon Saddle and Wainui Carpark
Time: 3 hr
Distance: 5 km
Beyond Awapoto Hut the track steepens then eases again before finally descending steeply to the road at Pigeon Saddle.
Pigeon Saddle to Wainui carpark
Time: 2 hr 25 min
Distance: 8 km
The track climbs slightly, passing a turn-off to a good viewpoint. Travel is then fairly level to the short climb up Gibbs Hill. Beyond Gibbs Hill are the best views in the whole park as the track descends, steeply at first, to the saddle on the Wainui–Whariwharangi section of the Abel Tasman Coast Track. At this saddle, the track forks and an easy 45-minute descent begins to the Wainui car park.
we will meet the other party somewhere along the track on day 2.
As its a reasonably long drive to Wainui, the trip will only go ahead if I get at least 3 people per car.