Abel Tasman AquaTaxi
Aqua Taxi – Getting You Closer to the Best of the Abel Tasman
Abel Tasman AquaTaxi provides quick and convenient access to the six major bays along the spectacular Abel Tasman coastline. With its fleet of water taxis, Aqua Taxi operates scheduled services, scenic cruises and customised charter trips all year round. Whether you’re looking for a short walk, a scenic day out, or a multi-day hiking adventure, AquaTaxi has a trip option to suit.
AquaTaxi’s boats are built specifically for the our coastline and its unique tidal conditions. These smaller vessels are able to access to the Park’s secret spots, spectacular marine life and, tides permitting, can even take you right into the incredible bush-fringed tidal inlets. Iconic locations such as Falls River with its majestic swingbridge and the NZ fur seal nursery at Shag Harbour are only accessible in the smaller boats operated by AquaTaxi.
Aqua Taxi provides packaged, return-fare water taxi trips which allow customers to choose which area of the Park they want to experience and how far they wish to walk. Many visitors chose to catch an Aqua Taxi to a specific bay from which they walk a section of the Coast Track before taking a return water taxi back to either Marahau or Kaiteriteri.
Visitors looking to maximise their Abel Tasman experience in the most economical way possible choose Marahau as their departure point. Customers will either water taxi into the Park so they can walk back to their road transport in Marahau, or they will walk into the Park and then catch a water taxi for their return to Marahau, rather than retracing their return journey on foot.
AquaTaxi was founded by Kelvin and Jane Goodman in 1990. The operation started out by offering charter services but quickly realised there was a gap in the market for water transport that provided customers with the opportunity to access sections of the Abel Tasman Coast Track for one-day and overnight trips. In 2000 AquaTaxi opened the first all-weather, purpose-built water taxi base in Marahau. This base was built to match the unique aesthetic of the local Marahau village.
In March 2004 AquaTaxi was purchased by Ngai Tahu Tourism. The business returned to private ownership in May 2012, when it was purchased by the Alborn family of Marahau. The Alborn family had owned and operated Marahau Water Taxis since 1997 as well as various other businesses servicing the Abel Tasman National Park.
