Awaroa Beach & CoffeeBeginner
Submitted by Mike McManaway
Front country - easily accessible
Out and Back
Undulating, small hills only
Native bushBeachCoastal
Beginner
3:00 (Slow)
2:00 (Moderate)
1:40 (Fast)
-5.7%
+5.8%
Abel Tasman is a great walk so normally it is quickly reopened even after big coastal storms but check with the DoC website if in doubt.
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
Please set your gender to see your position on the FKT leaderboards.
Men
Women
Filter FKTs
The more , the harder the FKT will be to beat. Learn about Fastest Known Times.
Description
Head south from Totaranui along the Abel Tasman trail for a lovely 5km of combined beach and forest trails until you reach the Awaroa estuary.
This can only be crossed 2 hours on either side of low tide so make sure you do your maths and time your crossings right. It is likely that your shoes will still get wet. It is easier (less deep) just to follow the orange Doc signs across to Awaroa Hut but a diagonal shortcut is usually fine at peak low tide. Some runners may prefer to remove shoes for the muddiest bits.
After the crossing diagonal across to the beach and reaching the open sea, turn right and cruise down the beach towards a prominent cliff boardwalk which is the access to the Awaroa Lodge. After a well-earned coffee & cake follow the signs back via Awaroa Glamping, the airstrip, and then the orange signs that take you to Awaroa Hut before making the return crossing of the estuary. Hopefully, you got the timing right!
Head back to Totaranui along the same Abel Tasman trail for 5km until you arrive back at your car.
Trail Community
Features of interest
Located within the protected confines of the South Island’s Abel Tasman National Park, Awaroa Beach curves magnificently around the mesmerising shallows of an atoll-like estuary. Meandering its way for 800 metres in length, it has been nicknamed “The People’s Beach” since it was purchased by New Zealanders from a private owner after a crowdfunding campaign that received the support of some 40,000 people.
A journey here is made all the more special by the fact Awaroa is only accessible on foot and by boat, with no road access. Scenic helicopter flights do overfly the beach without being able to land. As well as the almost unbelievable scenery, Awaroa has become a haven for coastal birds, which now nest nearby.
Make Up of Run
Untracked / Route only: 0%
Technical Single Track: 0%
Moderate Single Track: 20%
Easy Single Track: 80%
Route Data
Reviews:
Overlapping Runs
The following trails overlap with this run to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate Strava activity for each
Photos:
Your Trail Wishlist
All the runs that are on your To Do list (no limit).
Add to wishlist view wishlistWild Explorers
I did it!-
Access
From Tākaka take the road to Totaranui, at the Doc office turn right and continue through the camp site until the end of the road.
It is normally possible to park right at the start of the track/end of the road. However, in summer the area will be busy with campers, caravans and children so take care.
31 km
53 minutes
No
No
-
Staying Safe
Easy.
If in doubt follow the Orange DoC signs.
Patchy.
Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map.
None, be prepared and take what you need.
The Lodge is closed in winter so your coffee stop will be what you bring for lunch!
If you do end up trapped on the wrong side of the high tide crossing then ask the lodge to arrange a water taxi back to Totaranui. Better safe than sorry!
-
Post run indulgence
Awaroa Lodge is the name of the game- great coffee and food.
Awaroa, Abel Tasman
https://www.awaroalodge.co.nz
The high light of the run. - Blog Posts and Articles
-
Sponsor this trail
See other runs nearby:
Separation Point Loop
Sylvester Hut
Fenella Hut
The Killdevil
Totaranui Big Loop
Taupo Pa
Pupu Hydro Run
Parapara Peak
Anatoki-Waingaro-Kill Devil
Gibbs Hill Loop
Boulder Lake to Anatoki Forks
The Rameka to Pigeon Dance
Asbestos Cobb Loop
Motupipi Hill
Diamond in the Rough
Rawhiti Ramble
Wainui Falls goddess
Low Hanging Fruit