After hiking the Abel Tasman coast track in November 2020, and peeking into the sumptuous comfort of Awaroa Lodge, a luxury hotel unexpectedly nestled in the middle of the national park, I vowed to return. Inaccessible by road, Awaroa Lodge is the ultimate escape from the pressures of modern-day living.
How to get to Awaroa Lodge, Abel Tasman
Abel Tasman is a protected area in the north of New Zealand‘s south island. This region is characterised by endless sandy beaches and picturesque bays, as well as hiking trails through the national park. To get to Awaroa Lodge you’ll need to make your way to Kaiteriteri. From there you can complete the journey by boat.
The rooms at Awaroa Lodge
The rooms come with everything you need for a relaxing stay. They have comfy beds, mini fridge and even a sofa area if you opt for one of the superior rooms. Despite being in the middle of a secluded wilderness, there is decent wifi available. However, all the rooms are TV-free making it easy to disconnect and unwind with a good book instead.
Dining at Awaroa Lodge
The pièce de résistance of my stay was definitely the food. Much of the produce is grown in the lodge’s own kitchen garden. This combination of high quality ingredients with a top-notch chef meant mealtimes were a joy. As well as the dining area, the main building has a comfortable lounge where you can kick back with a tea (or glass of wine) and play board games.
What to do at Awaroa Lodge
While staying at Awaroa Lodge you can soak up the sun from the comfort of your own balcony area. Or wander down soft wooded trails to the nearest beach. You’ll find beautiful clear water and often not too many other people. You can rent paddle boards from the resort or even book onto a guided kayak tour of the area.
Sustainability
The entire area is a natural paradise. Awaroa Lodge have a strong commitment to upholding eco-friendly principles and protecting the local area. (You can read more about their sustainability policy here). Abel Tasman national park is perfect for wildlife lovers. On the boat ride over to Awaroa we stopped off for a look at the fur seals basking on an uninhabited island. Early morning swims were accompanied by schools of tiny fish. While lounging on the beach we watched a native oyster catcher teaching her young chick to look for food in the sand.
Think this is the place for you? Book your stay here.
Read my other posts about New Zealand here.
Learn about hiking the Abel Tasman Coast multi-day track here.