Abel Tasman National Park

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1 Otago Trailer Yacht Squadron OTYS - PO Box 5393 Moray Place, Dunedin OTAGO TRAILER YACHT SQUADRON CRUISING GUIDES & ARTICLES COLLECTION Abel Tasman National Park Author unknown. First published A good detailed guide, containing plenty of practical advice.

2 A8EL T.4&SMAIV I1IATIO/YAL,44/(K - A Crvis/~ 6u/de Abel Tasman National Park is the smallest of New Zealand's National Parks but unlike other Parks has had a very chequered history with pioneer farming and timber milling severely modifying the landscape. One of the purposes of creating the Park was to allow the native forest to slowly regenerate. The Park is now a very popular recreational area catering for tramping, camping and boating. With its quiet coastline protected from the open sea by Farewell Spit to the west and D'Urville Island to the east the Park has much to offer cruising yachts. The areas near Tasman Bay are sheltered by mountain ranges from ( southerly and easterly winds, and also from the predominating westerlies of the New Zealand area. Thus the region in general has a sunny, mild climate, less windy than most other areas in New Zealand. THE COASTLINE The following notes have been collated from a number of sources for the guidance of members who might be planning a cruise around the Park. While they are believed to be accurate neither the editor nor the Otago Trailer Yacht Squadron can accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. Warning It is vitally important that extreme care is taken when leaving sheltered bays, as the conditions in the bay often give no indication of strong winds and choppy seas prevailing outside. Sudden squalls and williwaws are not uncommon on the coast and care must be taken to watch the weather. The chart covering Tasman Bay is Chart No NZ Other publications which will prove useful to yachties planning to cruise the Park include "A Criusing Guide -Cape Palliser to Marlborough Sounds and Tasman Bay", "Abel Tasman National Park" and particularly "Coastal Photomaps - Tasman and Golden Bay". There are a few pitfalls for trailer yachties that should be remembered when planning a trip to the Park. The price of fresh fruit, vegetables and meat in the Kaiteriteri, Motueka area can be quite horrific and the quality not so good. Visitors not familiar with this coast are warned that the tidal range in Tasman Bay is considerable, being up to 4 meters on spring tides. This contrasts with 2 meters in the Otago Harbour. The inlets that dry out have a sandfly problem which may be troublesome to some people.

3 KAITERITERI ANCHORAGE Kaiteriteri is a very popular holiday resort with a motor camp, store, petrol station, telephone, fresh water and a concrete launching ramp. A trailer park is available near the ramp but sleeping on trailer yachts is prohibited on land except in the Motor Camp. If intending to stay at the Motor Camp during the holiday period a booking would be essential. Because of the 4m tidal range launching and retrieving can be accomplished only at close to high tide. The more adventuresome may Brefer to sail from Nelson. The course from Nelson Entrance is 302 M and the distance is 17 miles. Outlying rocks at the southern end of the bay are marked by unlit beacons. Care should be also be taken in the northern corner of the bay near the launching ramp where there is an unmarked rock awash at low water off the beach. Good anchorage is available south from the low gap inside the northern point in northerly winds. In south-easterly winds the anchorage is untenable and uncomfortable in south-westerly winds. Much of this sheltered area is taken up by permanent moorings. SANDY BAY - MARARAU Keep 1/3 of Honeymoon Bay open until Split Apple Rock is' clear outside of Ngaio Island to clear Ngaio Reef. Sandy Bay is shallow, drying out about half a mile at low water, with no anchorages except off the small beach under Guilbert Point. The anchorage should only be used as a refuge from gale force north westerly wi~ds when the Astrolabe anchorage becomes untenable. Marahau is the start of the walking track through the Abel Tasman National Park and has a camping ground, camp shop and a concrete launching ramp. The ramp can only be used one hour each side of high tide. Fresh water is available. ASTROLABE ROADSTEAD Care should be taken in entering the Roadstead to avoid the sandspit which extends almost halfway across the Roadstead from the southwest point of Adele Island. Adele Island provides a safe sheltered anchorage on the western shore of the Island from all winds except the southwest. Some shelter from the southwesterly may be gained under the sandspit on the southwest end of the anchorage. Very rarely, in extreme northwest gale force winds this anchorage becomes untenable with squalls and williwaws. Fresh water may be found on Adele Island from a small fall or stream on the northern beach of the Island anchorage.

4 From Guilbert Point, the coast on the mainland offers a series of small bays with golden sand and bush almost to the water's edge. give good anchorage in fine northerly sea breeze weather. Fresh water is available from creeks in these bays. All Adolphe Point marks the northern end of the Roadstead and should be given a clearance of at least 50 meters to avoid the sunk reef off the Point. About 500 meters southeast of Adolphe Point is Hapuka Reef. This extensive reef breaks awash at low water with a pinnacle rock which dries 1 meter in fine weather. It is marked by a black conical bouy..! It is safe to pass between Adolphe Point and Hapuka Reef but the coast between Apolphe Point and Pitt Head, known locally as the "Mad Mile", should be given a wide berth because of the short sharp sea which can develop here. Te Puketea Bay can be entered by trailer yachts but care must be taken to avoid the rocks on each side of the entrance. The bay is calm in southwest to westerly weather. Pitt Head is marked by a white and red flashing light. TORRENT BAY Torrent Bay is the most popular anchorage in the Park with its safe all weather anchorage, sandy beaches and better than average weather. As a consequence it can become rather crowded over the summer holidays. :! The Bay provides a variety of anchorages, the best of which is in 4-5 meters sand in the southeast corner opposite the Anchorage Hut. On entering this corner steer for the eastern end of the large sandy beach and look out to port for two sunk rocks almost awash at low water. Holding is excellent allover the Bay, but with the day breeze coming from the north and the night breeze from the southeast, an anchor (Danforth or CQR) which can capsize and relay itself is advisable. A water hose is located on the eastern side of Torrent Bay and a hose and shower rose is piped tb the main beach near the Park Board huts. The Torrent Bay Inlet largely dries out at low water but is navigable at high water with about 2.5 meters over the bar. The current through the entrance may be up to 3 knots. The Inlet is very popular with trailer yachts but legs are required to keep the boat on an even keel when the Inlet dies out. There are many walking tracks around the perimeter of the Inlet. North West Bay provides good anchorage except from easterly weather but dries out between Balloon Rock and the shore.

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6 Boundary Bay has Result Rocks and Totara Rocks on each side of the entrance which are covered at high water but once in the Bay there is shelter from from sea and wind from west to north and from the sea breezes. SANDFLY BAY - FALLS RIVER Sandfly Bay is I mile north of Torrent Bay and may be approached by keeping inshore at low water when the rocks will be exposed. Trailer yachts can enter the Falls Rlver Lagoon but the water in the entrance can be fast flowing. BARK BAY Between Torrent Bay and Bark Bay there is a large number of reefs and rocks that are covered at high water. The entrance to Bark Bay is partly blocked by the Bark Bay Reef which is extensive and dries about I meter at low water springs. Bark Bay may be approached by an inshore course close to the mainland where the dangers are visible at low water. Pass inside the Pinnacle Rocks watching to the east for two isolated rocks between the Pinnacle Rocks and the Bark Bay Reef. A reef extends 50 meters northwards from the South Point which dries 0.6 meter at low water spring. Clear this reef with the west end of the Bark Bay Reef to starboard stand in for the middle of the beach at the head of the Bay. Anchor well out in the center of the Bay. ~e Bay gives shelter from the sea breezes and all winds from southwest to north but is completely exposed to all other wipds and the sea. The Bay shallows gently toward thesandspit separating the Bay from the lagoon. The entrance to the lagoon is on the northern side and is navigable only by small craft or those which can safely dry out. The current in the entrance is fast flowing. A waterhose is provided on the northern shore. A large number of very large boulders are in the watering cove but there is ample depth at high water. TONGA ROADSTEAD Proceeding northwards from Bark Bay, there is a narrow channel between the north head of Bark Bay and the Bark Bay Reef, obstucted by a sunk rock (Whale Rock) which is usually visible in clear weather and a water. Stand north. (mag) until Foul Point is abeam then alter to 308 M towards the western Point of Tonga Island and enter Tonga Roadstead. Onetahuti Beach at the north end of the roadstead provides good anchorage in west to north west weather, but is exposed to weather between the east and southeast and should not be used under these conditions. The Beach shoals in the northern corner at low water.

7 The track to Bark and Awaroa Bays passes behind the Beach. To the east of Onetahuti Beach lies Reef Point with foul ground extending offshore, but just east of the Point is a tiny beach which is well protected from the sea breezes. It is a popular spot for barbeques with deep water and a sandy bottom. Tonga Island lies between the northern and southern extremities of the Roadstead and provides satisfactory shelter from northeast. winds on the southwestern coast. Just to the north of the Island there is a rock which is only meters under at low water spring. From Tonga Roadstead to Abel Head there are several open bays, but with little real shelter for peaceful overnight anchorage. Brereton Cove gives good shelter and anchorage in weather from the ) south and northwest, but otherwise is open to all weather and swells. AWAROA BAY AwaroaBay provides good shelter in the eastern corner in southerly and easterly weather. There are offlying rocks and care must be taken to stay well clear before entering the anchorage. The Bay has a smooth sandy bottom, but dries well out at spring tides. TOTARANUI Totaranui is the Headquarters of the Abel Tasman National Park and is the starting point for the coastal track. It can be reached by road from Takaka and Tarakohe and has a camping 'ground and concrete launching ramp. It can be very crowded during the summer holidays..~~ and Totaranui is very exposed to' weather from the northeast to southeast only affords shelter from winds from the north under the head close to the northwest shore. This anchorage was used by early sailing coasters to await moderate weather to round Separation Point into Golden Bay. From Totaranui to Separation Point only Mutton Cove provides a good anchorage. There is fair protection from northwest weather but it is not a good overnight anchorage because the night breeze usually comes from the southeast. SEPARATION POINT Separation Point is the northern extremity of Tasman Bay and is guarded by a flashing light. The water goes down 9 fathoms all round the Point and a dangerous sea can build up here.

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