Abel Tasman Marahau Beach Camp

Abel Tasman Marahau Beach Camp

353 Rankers Reviews

1 Backpackers

Book Now

Accommodations

Maps

FREE Header

Camping NZ NEW

Welcome to New Zealand's most comprehensive database of freely available camping information. This is the only travel map of its kind in NZ.

Photos

Information

Abel Tasman Marahau Beach Camp

Located in Marahau, The Abel Tasman Village, our traditional Kiwi camping ground is just steps away from the gorgeous Marahau beach. We have a waterfront cafe/beer garden as well as kayak and water taxi facilities on site.

We’ve got your Abel Tasman experience covered! Located in Marahau, the gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park, we have everything you need and offer experiences to suit everyone – from the comfort and cleanliness of the Marahau Beach Camp to the sumptuousness of waterfront dining at Hooked, the ease of Marahau Water Taxis and fun and adventure of Marahau Sea Kayaks. 100% locally owned and operated, we have been sharing our unique stunning coastline with the world since 1977. Golden sand beaches, dramatic rock formations, crystal clear water, native rainforest, marine and birdlife all create views and experiences to take your breath away. All conveniently located and departing from the one place, let us inspire you and show you this truly stunning corner of New Zealand.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Abel Tasman Centre

Commercial organisation

Location

South IslandNelson RegionAbel Tasman

Categories

  • Activity__camping_grounds_holiday_parksCamping Grounds
  • Backpackers
  • Activity__dump_stationDump Station

Operating Season And Hours

We're open all year round.

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-41.0050871393861

173.00872027874

Latitude
-41.0050871393861
Longitude
173.00872027874

Websites

Reviews

    ✓ Great location near beach

    ✓ Friendly staff

    ✓ Well-maintained facilities

    ✓ Clean site

    ✓ Convenient for Abel Tasman activities

    𐄂 Coin-operated showers

    𐄂 No cooking utensils

    • Stayed in the backpackers here.
    • comfortable and clean.
    • All right.
    • decent campsite!
    • A clean and cosy camp just next to the sea.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 32
    9%
    9/10 68
    19%
    8/10 109
    31%
    7/10 69
    20%
    6/10 38
    11%
    5/10 19
    5%
    4/10 7
    2%
    3/10 5
    1%
    2/10 5
    1%
    1/10 1
    0%
  • 4.5/5

    Cheapest in the area, big places for vans.

    1 dollar for a warm shower. You can cook indoors. Next to the sea.

    Reviewed 9 months ago

    Jorian's avatar

    Jorian

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Surtout qu’on a pas toujours des pièces de seulement un dollar sur soi.

    Bel emplacement près de la plage et des agence de kayaks/bateaux

    Cuisine équipée assez propre dans l’ensemble

    Pour le douche, c’est un dollar pour quatre minutes, ce qui est compréhensible par rapport aux restrictions d’eau, mais je trouve vraiment dommage qu’on doivent encore payé alors qu’on paye assez cher le camping…

    On est arrivé tard, il n’y avait plus personne pour échanger de la monnaie.

    D’autant plus que la douche est chaude avec une bonne pression, mais on ne peut pas réduire la température si on veut prendre une douche froide.

    L’eau coule pendant quatre minutes, on ne peut ps l’arrêter pour de savonner, ce qui est dommage car c’est une grosse perte d’eau inutile

    Reviewed about 1 year ago

  • 5.0/5

    Great spot, really clean, great start of our Abel Tasman adventure.

    The site is busier than all other campsites we stayed at, but to be expected so close to the National park and it is not bothering at all.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Well located campsite, friendly owners, well maintained and clean site.

    Shower operated with 1 dollar coins. 1 dollar gets you a 4 minute shower. More than enough. Facilities a bit dated but do the job when we are passing through. No utensils available for cooking.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

    Alex's avatar

    Alex

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Really liked it here.

    Big site for our camper van. Good facilities. Be aware though that you are right next to the Abel Tasman Aquataxi stop. Very convenient but also means lots of activity and noise from about 8.30 am. AT reserve is beautiful. Book your taxi ahead and do some of the walks. Also sea kayaking a must. And don’t miss the Park Cafe about 20 minutes walk towards the reserve. Great food and drinks. And crazy open mic on Thursdays!

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

    Steve's avatar

    Steve

    Customer

  • 2.5/5

    I paid 25$ as a single for non powered site.

    If you think you can have a nice shower after Abel Tasman, think again. The showers are 1$ for 4 minutes and the water pressure is the worst i experienced so far in NZ. This was the first time i could not finish a shower in 4 Minutes!

    The kitchen does not have utensils, so bring your own.

    Reviewed 8 months ago

    Bernie's avatar

    Bernie

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Great spot, the tourist info, water taxi and little shop is just at the opposite street.

    Had a powered site. Facilities were clean and the campground is beautifully located near the beach. If you want to start your walks to Abel Tasman, this might be one of the best places to stay.

    Reviewed about 2 years ago and experienced in October 2022

    Sarah's avatar

    Sarah

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    decent campsite!

    Very busy when we stayed on labour weekend. Facilities were clean. Shower is coin operated, as well as the washing machine which also comes with detergent and only does cold wash.

    Reviewed about 2 years ago

    Lara's avatar

    Lara

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Perfect spot for day trips into the Abel Tasman.

    Quaint little campground with friendly and informative staff.

    Amenities are fine, the showers are hot with great pressure, definitely what you need after a long walk. You do need to pay $1, which in a way does help to conserve water.

    The nearby restaurant was a perfect way to end our beautiful walk in Abel Tasman.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

    M&G Papamoa's avatar

    M&G Papamoa

    Customer

  • 1.5/5

    I do not recommend this site if you are tenting and do not understand why reviews are so high.

    Camp sites are packed together and next to vans parked in the street - it feels like sleeping in a parking lot. You’ll hear music and chatter from the bar next door. Amenities are to few for a full site. There are other campgrounds just down the road with more space and amenities for those camping.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

    Laura Easton's avatar

    Laura Easton

    Customer

  • 2.5/5

    I paid 25$ as a single for non powered site.

    If you think you can have a nice shower after Abel Tasman, think again. The showers are 1$ for 4 minutes and the water pressure is the worst i experienced so far in NZ. This was the first time i could not finish a shower in 4 Minutes!

    The kitchen does not have utensils, so bring your own.

    Reviewed 8 months ago

    Bernie's avatar

    Bernie

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Cheapest in the area, big places for vans.

    1 dollar for a warm shower. You can cook indoors. Next to the sea.

    Reviewed 9 months ago

    Jorian's avatar

    Jorian

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Surtout qu’on a pas toujours des pièces de seulement un dollar sur soi.

    Bel emplacement près de la plage et des agence de kayaks/bateaux

    Cuisine équipée assez propre dans l’ensemble

    Pour le douche, c’est un dollar pour quatre minutes, ce qui est compréhensible par rapport aux restrictions d’eau, mais je trouve vraiment dommage qu’on doivent encore payé alors qu’on paye assez cher le camping…

    On est arrivé tard, il n’y avait plus personne pour échanger de la monnaie.

    D’autant plus que la douche est chaude avec une bonne pression, mais on ne peut pas réduire la température si on veut prendre une douche froide.

    L’eau coule pendant quatre minutes, on ne peut ps l’arrêter pour de savonner, ce qui est dommage car c’est une grosse perte d’eau inutile

    Reviewed about 1 year ago

  • 4.0/5

    Really liked it here.

    Big site for our camper van. Good facilities. Be aware though that you are right next to the Abel Tasman Aquataxi stop. Very convenient but also means lots of activity and noise from about 8.30 am. AT reserve is beautiful. Book your taxi ahead and do some of the walks. Also sea kayaking a must. And don’t miss the Park Cafe about 20 minutes walk towards the reserve. Great food and drinks. And crazy open mic on Thursdays!

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

    Steve's avatar

    Steve

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Well located campsite, friendly owners, well maintained and clean site.

    Shower operated with 1 dollar coins. 1 dollar gets you a 4 minute shower. More than enough. Facilities a bit dated but do the job when we are passing through. No utensils available for cooking.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

    Alex's avatar

    Alex

    Customer

  • 1.5/5

    I do not recommend this site if you are tenting and do not understand why reviews are so high.

    Camp sites are packed together and next to vans parked in the street - it feels like sleeping in a parking lot. You’ll hear music and chatter from the bar next door. Amenities are to few for a full site. There are other campgrounds just down the road with more space and amenities for those camping.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

    Laura Easton's avatar

    Laura Easton

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Great spot, really clean, great start of our Abel Tasman adventure.

    The site is busier than all other campsites we stayed at, but to be expected so close to the National park and it is not bothering at all.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Great spot, the tourist info, water taxi and little shop is just at the opposite street.

    Had a powered site. Facilities were clean and the campground is beautifully located near the beach. If you want to start your walks to Abel Tasman, this might be one of the best places to stay.

    Reviewed about 2 years ago and experienced in October 2022

    Sarah's avatar

    Sarah

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    decent campsite!

    Very busy when we stayed on labour weekend. Facilities were clean. Shower is coin operated, as well as the washing machine which also comes with detergent and only does cold wash.

    Reviewed about 2 years ago

    Lara's avatar

    Lara

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Perfect spot for day trips into the Abel Tasman.

    Quaint little campground with friendly and informative staff.

    Amenities are fine, the showers are hot with great pressure, definitely what you need after a long walk. You do need to pay $1, which in a way does help to conserve water.

    The nearby restaurant was a perfect way to end our beautiful walk in Abel Tasman.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

    M&G Papamoa's avatar

    M&G Papamoa

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    If you're looking for a place to stay in Abel Tasman, I would 100% recommended this campsite.

    We initially booked for one night as a group of 11 for tent sites. They gave us our own grassy area just for ourselves and were really welcoming.

    The showers are $1 for 5 mins but the pressure is great and hot. Plenty of time and worth it. Free, fast wifi. The facilities were sparkling clean and the caretakers work really hard. It's directly opposite the beach and they run sea taxis from the campsite.

    The cafe does great food, beers, coffee and homemade cakes.

    We decided to stay another night as it was such a comfortable place to be.

    On the third morning, we were unable to start one of our cars and the caretakers and other campers came to help. The lady in the cafe called her husband to help, and he also brought a mechanic.

    We were stuck in the rain all day, however they allowed us to use their facilities and were extremely friendly. We needed to stay another night, and the receptionist offered us beds in the backpackers for the same price as it was raining and they wanted us to be comfortable.

    All of the staff went above and beyond to make our stay amazing, and we are massively grateful to each and every one of them. 10/10 for facilities, location, price and above all, staff!!

    Reviewed over 4 years ago

    Carys's avatar

    Carys

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    All right.

    Nothing more. But its good to start your abel tasman experience from here.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

    Lukas's avatar

    Lukas

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Very nice campsite.

    Good place to start exploring Abel T. NP.

    We rate - 1 Point because the laundry mashines didn't work well. Cloth came out still dirty and much too wet even with highest spin.

    We rate - 1 more point because the showers cost money. Other campsites with the same or lower price offer the same standard but free showers.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

    Chris's avatar

    Chris

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Nice campsite close to the beach.

    Office is at intersection (yellow building). 20 dollars per person per night. And 1 dollar for a shower. The caretakers work really hard everyday to keep it clean and tidy. Has laundry facilities and kitchen. We have stayed here for 4 nights. It fills up quickly after 4 pm. All kayak and boat tours within walking distance. Nice cafe nearby for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Go grocery shopping in Motueka.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Best campground ever.modern nice clean facilities washing machine three dollars dryer three dollars very quick.hot showers $1 for five minutes.very friendly welcome and information.we had nice Chat with

    New Zealand’s people. Highly recommended

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Very clean and new (but because of this not a great deal of “charm”) our space was roomy but some looked a bit less so.

    Good kitchen and toilets and bar nearby had good happy hour and food looked good. V near to water taxis etc.

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

    Tash & Laura 's avatar

    Tash & Laura

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Very nice campsite.

    It‘s 20$ pp. But that‘s ok. Everything is realllly clean!!! Bathrooms, toilets and kitchen all in good shape. Shower is 1$. It‘s next to the ocean and a nice bar/cafe. Wifi might not be the best but whatever.. laundry is available as well.

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

    Lena's avatar

    Lena

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    This was a great campsite that included everything right next to an amazing place like the Abel Tasman national park.

    I saw lots of reviews complaining about the cost but it’s costs money to keep places like this running at not impact the environment. It was still cheaper than the Kaiteriteri campsite and closer to the national park. Hooked cafe was amazing too with a great happy hour

    Reviewed about 6 years ago

    Lance's avatar

    Lance

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Not many places to choose from up here, and all are quite expensive.

    It had most things you need, pity you have to pay $1 for a 4 minute hot shower. Staff were friendly.

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

    Carl Fogarty's avatar

    Carl Fogarty

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    For us was the best holiday park of our 21 days journey.

    The showers cost $1 per 6 minutes, but there were perfect. In other parks you have to be pressing a button constantly to have hot water, but in this you pay and forget about everything. You can enjoy your shower. And the views are absolutely beautiful!!! We recommend this park, definitely.

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

    Tati Moron's avatar

    Tati Moron

    Customer

  • 3.0/5

    Not a brilliant campground and relatively basic facilities for what you pay for.

    Brilliant bar next door - happy hour from 4:00.

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

    Simon Springett's avatar

    Simon Springett

    Customer

  • 0.5/5

    I‘m very disappointed with customer service.

    I bought 10 Gig of Wi-Fi which is not working. I asked for help or refund, and I was told ‚don’t even bother talking to me, we are not giving a refund. Yes we know it’s not working good this time of the year‘. Sorry but why do they sell it then? Pls see an internet speed test as a proof. I just find this attitude to the customer really sad.

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

    Ann Petrova's avatar

    Ann Petrova

    Customer

  • 1.0/5

    - Kitchen totally unequipped, glad they at least provided an old toaster.

    + Good location

    + Shaded tent sites

    - Showers $1.

    - Showers, toilets, kitchen and especially the laundry totally worn.

    - Bad vibes, classic tourist trap at the start of Abel Tasman National Park

    - Expensive

    Reviewed almost 7 years ago

    M Risse's avatar

    M Risse

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    An excellent spot right at the start of Abel Tasman.

    Sparkling clean amenities, great laundry, big clean kitchen with heaps of fridge/freezer space and multiple toasters/kettles/microwaves. Friendly staff, hiking, kayaks, water taxis, guided single and multi day tours, small shop and cafe/bar. $40 per night powered site for 2, $1 per 6 minute shower, $3 per load clothes washing (free detergent). It’s definitely expensive, but worth the price. Gotta bear in mind that this is all locally run, and to even have facilities out here in the first place costs a lot of money, so I don’t mind paying the rates to support the locals and keep places like this in business. There’s free day parking across the road too if you just want to hire kayaks/get a water taxi to do some walks for the day.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

    Lilith Prins's avatar

    Lilith Prins

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    This site is ideal for exploring the Abel Tasman Park.

    We did a one day hiking tour and a one day kayak tour from here. The staff is very friendly and answers any question. Showers costs one dollar. May be too less of them (2 men/2 woman) in high season. Laundry and kitchen are very clean, campsites between trees and on grass. Cost 40nzd for 2 people and a camper.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

    GERMANY
    Stefan Hohmann's avatar

    Stefan Hohmann

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Friendly people, tidy, compact, water pressure a problem.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

    AUSTRALIA
    Steve Shaw's avatar

    Steve Shaw

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Clean, basic campsite with an amazing location.

    Marking down for the very high price and the pettiness to charge for showers in addition.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

    Grainne Phelan's avatar

    Grainne Phelan

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Awesome camping spot!

    Very friendly staff with lots of information about the area. Perfect leaving spot for Abel Tasman hikes and water taxis - also very close to the beach with beautiful sunsets. Great facilities also, very clean!

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    The camping kitchen and showers are clean.

    But too expensive for what you get. $40 for a tent place, $5 extra for wifi per night, $1 when you want to take a shower. So you pay for the camping place and toilet and use of kitchen $40. For the laundry, shower (cold shower not possible) wifi you pay extra. Kayaking here is great. Great service.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Monique Pos's avatar

    Monique Pos

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    A rather basic camping ground.

    Facilities were very tired but clean, and you pay for hot water. However it is close to the Abel Tasman national park. The small shop handles all the bookings for the site, including water taxis and kayaks. We stayed for two nights @ $35 per night, which for that region is good value.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

    AUSTRALIA
    David Elliott's avatar

    David Elliott

    Customer