• We've had a great time with NMIT - Adventure Tourism students during June/July. They ran day and overnight trips to gain practical experience for their sea kayaking component of their adventure course. We loved watching their confidence and skills grow. We work closely with NMIT by providing students with the opportunity to experience the Abel Tasman in a professional manner. We think it is very important to educate the next generation of guides. We look forward to seeing you again next year. Thanks Brando Yelavich Wildboy Adventures for the picture
    We've had a great time with NMIT - Adventure Tourism students during June/July. They ran day and overnight trips to gain practical experience for their sea kayaking component of their adventure course. We loved watching their confidence and skills grow. We work closely with NMIT by providing students with the opportunity to experience the Abel Tasman in a professional manner. We think it is very important to educate the next generation of guides. We look forward to seeing you again next year. Thanks Brando Yelavich Wildboy Adventures for the picture
  • Great piccie @totheendsandback there are plenty of beaches in the Abel Tasman just waiting to be explored!
    Great piccie @totheendsandback there are plenty of beaches in the Abel Tasman just waiting to be explored!
  • Thanks @marate for this video of NZ fur seals playing at Adele Island. We can see them having a great time. Adele Island is a great place to live if you're a seal!
    Thanks @marate for this video of NZ fur seals playing at Adele Island. We can see them having a great time. Adele Island is a great place to live if you're a seal!
  • Tom Horn guiding back to Marahau. Still smiling 30 years on!
    Tom Horn guiding back to Marahau. Still smiling 30 years on!
  • Speeches at Abel Tasman Kayaks
    Speeches at Abel Tasman Kayaks
  • Ian Trafford, Tom and Ingrid Horn & Jack Kelly
    Ian Trafford, Tom and Ingrid Horn & Jack Kelly
  • Our 30th birthday was an amazing day on and off the water. It was great to reflect on how far as a company and an industry sea kayaking has come. There will be more pictures to come in the New Year but for now here is a selection of pictures. Tom Horn checking out one of his original paddles he made by hand out of kahikatea for the shaft and plywood for the blade; Ian Trafford (original owner of Ocean River), Tom and Ingrid Horn (original owners of Abel Tasman Kayaks and Jack Kelly (current owner of Abel Tasman Kayaks); speeches at Abel Tasman Kayaks to mark the occasion; Tom Horn guiding another trip sailing back to Marahau.
    Our 30th birthday was an amazing day on and off the water. It was great to reflect on how far as a company and an industry sea kayaking has come. There will be more pictures to come in the New Year but for now here is a selection of pictures. Tom Horn checking out one of his original paddles he made by hand out of kahikatea for the shaft and plywood for the blade; Ian Trafford (original owner of Ocean River), Tom and Ingrid Horn (original owners of Abel Tasman Kayaks and Jack Kelly (current owner of Abel Tasman Kayaks); speeches at Abel Tasman Kayaks to mark the occasion; Tom Horn guiding another trip sailing back to Marahau.
  • Prep for the inaugural kayak trip…. Preparation for the first kayak trip was a bit more low key than it is nowadays. A test paddle had been completed to check timing and conditions for a half day trip out to Fishermans Island. With the test paddle successfully completed the Ingrid and Tom borrowed some local river kayaks and lifejackets to supplement their 6 Wanaka kayaks and due to the lack of money Tom made some more kahikatea shaft - plywood blade paddles They then rustled up 10 young travellers, later to be called backpackers, from the YHA in Motueka. Ten eager souls were the first to embark on a journey as freebies which is now one of Abel Tasman Kayaks showcase trips in the Astrolabe. At Fishermans Island they landed and lit a fire to celebrate and steam some local mussels, the young people swam and hang out on the beach listening to the deafening noise of the Ciacaidas (spelling : Cicadas ) This first trip was a success and over that first summer many more happy customers were catered for. Here is the prep for Dec 22, 30 yrs on.....
    Prep for the inaugural kayak trip…. Preparation for the first kayak trip was a bit more low key than it is nowadays. A test paddle had been completed to check timing and conditions for a half day trip out to Fishermans Island. With the test paddle successfully completed the Ingrid and Tom borrowed some local river kayaks and lifejackets to supplement their 6 Wanaka kayaks and due to the lack of money Tom made some more kahikatea shaft - plywood blade paddles They then rustled up 10 young travellers, later to be called backpackers, from the YHA in Motueka. Ten eager souls were the first to embark on a journey as freebies which is now one of Abel Tasman Kayaks showcase trips in the Astrolabe. At Fishermans Island they landed and lit a fire to celebrate and steam some local mussels, the young people swam and hang out on the beach listening to the deafening noise of the Ciacaidas (spelling : Cicadas ) This first trip was a success and over that first summer many more happy customers were catered for. Here is the prep for Dec 22, 30 yrs on.....
  • It's our birthday today....In 1986, a 1946 Ford made the journey all the way from Wanaka to Marahau. The old Truck found the Marahau hill a bit of a challenge, it had to stop at the top of the hill to let the engine cool down before winding its way down the recently sealed road to the Marahau boat ramp. Tom and Ingrid stopped at the Marahau boat ramp, in awe of the Abel Tasman (Astrolabe ) coastline and they thought to themselves ‘yip this could be a great place to give seakayaking a go'. They were not short on enthusiasm, and with a bunch of old river kayaks, sandwich board, a one page flier and binoculars they hoped for the best. The rest you could say is history, Abel Tasman Kayaks is now 30 years old, it can still be seen daily at the sandspit and boat ramp, and during the summer Tom is still out guiding just like it was yesterday. This is Tom this morning briefing the team on what's happening today and what happened 30 years ago. Tom and Ingrid we all think you are a legend's to have created such a wonderful legacy for clients, staff and the community.
    It's our birthday today....In 1986, a 1946 Ford made the journey all the way from Wanaka to Marahau. The old Truck found the Marahau hill a bit of a challenge, it had to stop at the top of the hill to let the engine cool down before winding its way down the recently sealed road to the Marahau boat ramp. Tom and Ingrid stopped at the Marahau boat ramp, in awe of the Abel Tasman (Astrolabe ) coastline and they thought to themselves ‘yip this could be a great place to give seakayaking a go'. They were not short on enthusiasm, and with a bunch of old river kayaks, sandwich board, a one page flier and binoculars they hoped for the best. The rest you could say is history, Abel Tasman Kayaks is now 30 years old, it can still be seen daily at the sandspit and boat ramp, and during the summer Tom is still out guiding just like it was yesterday. This is Tom this morning briefing the team on what's happening today and what happened 30 years ago. Tom and Ingrid we all think you are a legend's to have created such a wonderful legacy for clients, staff and the community.
  • Wk 10 tshirt winner is @livhibbert Thanks for posting this picture from your 2 day adventure. The conditions look great! ___ @abeltasmankayaks @livhibbert
    Wk 10 tshirt winner is @livhibbert Thanks for posting this picture from your 2 day adventure. The conditions look great! ___ @abeltasmankayaks @livhibbert
  • These guys look like they are having a blast on the water. Thanks @morleymi for posting this fun picture. You are our wk 9 t-shirt winner.
    These guys look like they are having a blast on the water. Thanks @morleymi for posting this fun picture. You are our wk 9 t-shirt winner.
  • Grab a lifejacket, sprayskirt, pick a paddle, climb into a kayak and let your adventure begin... --- #abeltasmankayaks #abeltasmannationalpark #seakayakingnz #ilovenelson
    Grab a lifejacket, sprayskirt, pick a paddle, climb into a kayak and let your adventure begin... --- #abeltasmankayaks #abeltasmannationalpark #seakayakingnz #ilovenelson