Anchorage Beach

• Abel Tasman National Park
• Beaches & Bays

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Sheltered by the headlands, the name Anchorage seems only fitting for this iconic beachside destination. The ideal spot to anchor a yacht and while the day away, adventures are aplenty in this part of the Abel Tasman National Park.

Anchorage is home to the first large camping area along the Abel Tasman Coastal Track and is one of the main destinations for water taxi, scenic cruise and kayaking trips in the park. Approximately 4 hours (12.4km) from the starting point of the track in Marahau, Anchorage is one of the busier beaches in the Abel Tasman National Park – not surprising when you consider that it has a 34-bunk DOC hut and 50 non-powered tent sites.

A number of short, scenic walks are within easy reach of this gorgeously golden and subtly sweeping beach. During low tide, you’ll find visitors exploring the incredible rock formations to the north of the beach (there’s even one shaped like an elephant), and the Pitt Head walk nearby offers extraordinary views of the coast as you descend to Te Puketea Bay.

The next stop along the Abel Tasman Coast Track from Anchorage is Torrent Bay, a seaside village bordered by a tidal estuary. At low tide, you can cut an hour or so off your trip by walking directly across the estuary behind the headlands of Anchorage, whilst the high tide track is spectacularly scenic and well worth the extra mileage.

Photo credits: (1-2) Abel Tasman Sea Shuttle, (3-4) www.nelsontasman.nz (5) Tamzin Henderson, (6) Abel Tasman Canyons, (7) Nelson Tasman Air.