When to Visit

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What can you expect with the change of the seasons?

September / October / November

  • Higher concentration of dolphins
  • Pied shags are nesting - seen on all tours.
  • Spotted shags still prevalent on many outcrops
  • Late season sees massed flowers of manuka-kanuka, our 'summer snow'
  • Average air temp 19°C Water temp 16°C

December / January

  • The Abel Tasman's busiest time due to warm temperatures, sunny skies, great swimming and timing with national summer holidays.
  • Our own christmas tree, the Pohutakawa, is in flower - seen on all tours.
  • Sea breezes lend to great afternoon sailing conditions on most tours.
  • Average air temp 22°C Water temp 18°C

February / March / April

  • Increased seal encounters as this season moves on.
  • Calmer seas
  • Settled weather - still mainly shorts and t-shirt temperatures during the day.
  • Average air temp 20°C Water Temp 17°C

May / June / July / August

  • Provides magic paddling on settled days between 10am and 3pm.
  • Sea is generally dead calm.
  • Highest concentration of wildlife - seals, shags and penguins.
  • You can paddle all day and hardly see another soul.
  • Average air temp 14°C Water Temp 10°C