Waka Abel Tasman

Connect. Experience. Explore.

To travel across water is to connect across time and space. We feel the motion and te mauri o te wai, just as our tūpuna did. To do it in a group, connects you in a way nothing else does.

Nau mai ki Kaiteretere.
Welcome to Kaiteriteri.

Our Waka Tours

Waka Family Tours, Kaiteriteri, Abel Tasman National Park

Public Trips

Embrace the spirit of adventure. At Waka Abel Tasman, we take you or your group on a journey of discovery – combining idyllic surrounds, exercise, history and tradition. Our tours will connect and empower.

Choose a Waka Tour

Secondary School students learning about tikanga waka at Kateriteri

School Groups

Our outdoor education experiences fit with the current school curriculum and provide empowering experiences for kids of all ages. The trips incorporate te ao Māori, history, team work and physical activity.

Explore our School Trips

Corporate Teams

To travel across water is to connect across time and space. To do it as a group, connects you in a way nothing else does. Waka is hard to beat for teambuilding and for empowering individuals within a team or group.

See our Corporate Options

What people are saying about our tours

best day ever with waka abel tasman - an amazing afternoon with leanne and thomas out on te tai-o-aorere. the manaakitanga was amazing and generosity of the kaihautū to share their kōrero with us. even stopped for  kai and a tea - mīharo! thank u e te whānau  i will be back :—)
Liv W
1 August, 2026 

Great experience - thank you - Thank you very much. We took a group of 13 - 18 year old's. It was the perfect level of challenge - and it was great to see the kids increase in confidence on the waka and with the tikanga surrounding. The waka experience was accompanied by very considered conversation about the history of the area and the mana whenua connection with their lands. All in all a really fun time.
Rebecca A
15 July, 2026 

Perfect - great for the soul! - What a fabulous experience it was learning about the local history in the Abel Tasman with two amazing guides! We managed to pick a day where the weather was pretty perfect and so was the company as we were sharing this with our teaching team and whānau! Ngā mihi Waka Abel Tasman, we will be back for a sunrise paddle next time.
Angelique H
5 May, 2026 

"Manaaki moana, manaaki tangata, haere whakamua"

Care for the sea, care for the people, move forward as one

Why us

Waka - a truly unique experience

Waka (Māori canoe) are the living expression of our tūpuna (ancestors) who sailed the Pacific Ocean for thousands of years. As the only form of transport across oceans and waterways, waka were vital to our travel and trade.

By paddling in our waka hourua (double-hulled vessel) you share in our treasured ocean heritage. Waka is an inclusive experience where everyone can feel the joy of working as part of a team.

We begin and end all our trips with a karakia (blessing) for protection. You will learn tikanga (etiquette) associated with waka before becoming familiar with the boat and embarking on our haerenga (journey).

Learn More About Us

Skilled cultural ocean navigators

#1 Rated on TripAdvisor

Large or small groups,
or individuals

Manaakitanga and safety is at our core

Make a booking today

Treat you and your whānau to a new adventure that's as old as civilisation itself. Feel the breeze on your face, the drag of the water against your paddle and the hugely rewarding sense of working together as one. Paddling waka connects you to a rich cultural heritage but it's also great fun. Prepare to get hooked!

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