10 October 2026
Showers developing in the morning, possibly heavy inland, turning to rain at night. Northeasterlies developing in the morning.
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Walking track
Abel Tasman National Park
A short walk from Tōtaranui that takes you into magnificent pukatea forest with glades of tall nīkau palms.
Distance
1.61 km
Walking time
30 min return
Difficulty
Easy
Dogs
Not allowed
Wheelchair access
Not marked friendly
Current status
No active alerts found. Conditions can still change, so check again before leaving.
Weather outlook
Issued 10 Oct 2026, 5:00 am
10 October 2026
Showers developing in the morning, possibly heavy inland, turning to rain at night. Northeasterlies developing in the morning.
11 October 2026
A few showers clearing to fine in the afternoon. Northerlies, dying out in the afternoon.
12 October 2026
Fine. Light winds.
13 October 2026
A few showers clearing in the afternoon, then partly cloudy. Light winds.
14 October 2026
Rain with heavy falls easing. Northerlies developing for a time.
Regional guidance only; elevation and terrain can produce different conditions.
Explore the area
Explore the track route and surrounding area before you set out.
The Pukatea Walk is a short, easy loop that takes around 30 minutes to complete. From Tōtaranui, head north along the Coast Track. The walk branches off at the base of Anapai Hill, winding through kānuka and gorse shrubland — a reminder of the area’s farming past. The track then follows a boardwalk through a raupō wetland, before climbing into dry ridge forest with beech trees. It continues into lush pukatea forest, with glades of tall nīkau palms, towering black mamaku tree ferns, and the occasional massive northern rātā. The walk finishes with a glimpse of the forest’s future — beneath the tall kānuka canopy, young pukatea, rimu, and kahikatea are regenerating, slowly restoring the landscape after past clearing and fire.
Wasps are a possible hazard and are more common from December until April. Carry antihistamine if you are allergic to their stings. Giardia has been found in some park waters. It can be removed from drinking water by boiling, filtering or chemical treatment. All tap water at Tōtaranui is filtered.
Nelson to Tōtaranui is about two and a half hours. Take SH6 south out of Nelson and turn onto SH60 (the Coastal Highway) once past Richmond. Follow SH60 over the Takaka Hill to Takaka. From Takaka follow signs to Pohara and Tata Beach, which will lead you past the Abel Tasman Memorial and onto Tōtaranui. The last 12 km is a narrow, winding, unsealed road. Use this location in Google Maps to help find your way there.
We encourage you to continue gaining the skills and knowledge required for a safe trip. The NZ Mountain Safety Council has lots of free resources and information you can use. These can be accessed via www.mountainsafety.org.nz . Level up in your outdoor knowledge with these interactive online learning tools: Trip Planning Tramping / field Skills Basic Navigation River Safety Additionally, check out the range of helpful videos available from the NZ Mountain Safety Council YouTube channel .
No dogs.
Track information, access and weather can change. Confirm current alerts and land-manager information close to departure, tell someone your plans, and carry equipment appropriate for the route and conditions.