Full-Day Sailing Tour Abel Tasman: Split Apple Rock & Fur Seals

You get a full hour on the beach in the middle of the day, not a rushed stop.

A full-day sailing tour of Abel Tasman National Park departing from Kaiteriteri at 10 am, with a skipper guide who teaches you about the park's history and marine life as you pass Split Apple Rock and visit the Fur Seal Colony. The tour includes a packed picnic lunch, tea and coffee, a one-hour stop at Anchorage Beach where you can swim or walk to caves, and a return sail on the afternoon breeze. Hotel pickup and drop-off can be arranged on request.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day sailing in Abel Tasman Park

• Meet at Kaiteriteri ticket booth 9:30 am
• Depart sailing adventure at 10 am
• Sail past Split Apple Rock and Fur Seals
• Arrive Anchorage Bay for 1-hour lunch stop
• Enjoy packed picnic lunch and explore beach
• Sail further into park after lunch
• Return sailing to Kaiteriteri with skipper commentary

The experience

The boat leaves Kaiteriteri Beach at 10 am after a 9:30 am meet at the ticket booth. You sail along the coastline, passing the Split Apple Rock and then Adele Island where the Fur Seals live. The route takes you into Abel Tasman National Park proper, moving through golden beaches and bays with birdsong overhead. Your skipper talks through the park's history, the marine life you're seeing, and the flora and fauna as you go. You're not just watching the coast, you're learning what you're looking at.

Anchorage Bay is where the day opens up. You anchor for a full hour with a packed picnic lunch already included, plus tea and coffee. That hour is yours to eat on the beach, swim in the water, or walk inland to explore sea caves. It's not a fifteen-minute photo stop. It's time enough to actually be there. After lunch the boat catches the afternoon sea breeze and sails back to Kaiteriteri, retracing the route so you see the seals and Split Apple Rock again from a different angle on the return.

The whole day runs about seven and a half hours from start to finish. You can sit and watch the sailing happen, help work the boat if you want to, or learn the mechanics as the skipper explains them. The choice is yours. Free transfers between Marahau and Kaiteriteri can be arranged if you ask when you book.

What’s included

• Packed picnic lunch.
• tea and coffee.
• skipper guide in English who teaches you about the park's history, marine life, flora and fauna.
• hotel pickup and drop-off on request.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

AgesAdult (15 to 90 years) · Child (5 to 14 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures

Is this one for you?The seven-and-a-half-hour commitment means you're spending most of your day on the water and at one beach, which suits anyone who wants a full immersion in the park rather than a quick highlight reel. The full hour at Anchorage Beach is what makes swimming and cave exploration possible without rushing. If your day is fragmented or you need to be somewhere by mid-afternoon, a shorter excursion would work better.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 14 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is Split Apple Rock and why do we sail past it?

Split Apple Rock is an iconic natural formation in Abel Tasman: a large boulder split cleanly in two, sitting in the water near the coast. The tour passes it on the outbound sail, and you see it again on the return, so it anchors the visual geography of the day.

Can I swim at Anchorage Beach or do I just sit there?

Anchorage Beach is where you have a full hour to do what you want. Swimming is possible, and you can also walk to explore sea caves or simply relax on the sand with your lunch. The choice is entirely yours during that stop.

What's included in the packed lunch?

The operator provides a packed picnic lunch, tea, and coffee. Specific contents of the picnic are not detailed, so contact the operator directly if you have dietary requirements or allergies.

Do I need sailing experience to join this tour?

No experience is necessary. You can relax and watch, get involved in the sailing if you want to, or learn as the skipper explains what's happening. The tour is designed for all fitness levels and all experience levels.

What's the Fur Seal Colony like when we sail past Adele Island?

The tour visits the Fur Seal Colony at Adele Island on the outbound journey. The seals are wild animals in their natural habitat, so the experience depends on what's present on the day, but seeing them is a regular part of the route.

How long does the whole tour take and when do we get back?

The full tour runs about seven and a half hours. You meet at 9:30 am and depart at 10 am, so you'll be back at Kaiteriteri in the late afternoon, leaving time for other activities or travel later in the day.