Split Apple Rock looks like the giant head of a whale emerging from calm tropical waters. The cracked “apple” is a fantastic sight to see in New Zealand’s Tasman District.
On the outskirts of Abel Tasman National Park, a rock split almost perfectly in two protrudes out of Tasman Bay’s blue-green waters. The Māori have a special name for the iconic boulder – Tokangawhā. It translates in English to “burst open rock,” but nowadays, it’s more commonly referred to as Split Apple Rock. You’ll understand the moment you lay eyes on it, the crack looks like a sword cleanly sliced the rock in two.
It’s a popular destination for visitors in this part of the South Island. Tasman Bay is known for its sunshine and calm waters, meaning accessibility is almost year-round. The rock is also next door to the upbeat beach town of Kaiteriteri. Known throughout the region as the “gateway to Abel Tasman National Park,” Kaiteriteri has kayak rentals to explore the bay’s waters.
If you’re looking out to Split Apple Rock from the shore, you’ll often notice the kayakers and an occasional boat getting a glimpse through its two pieces. After all, the formation is only about 50 meters from the shore.
A WALK DOWN TO THE SUNNY BEACH
Despite being one of the main attractions for tourists visiting Abel Tasman, the small beach looking out onto Tokangawhā can be surprisingly quiet. Of course, don’t expect this in the peak tourist seasons, but the rest of the year you’ll have a chance to have it all to yourself.
The walk down to the beach is straightforward, with a marked path accompanied by stairs and wooden platforms. However, that doesn’t mean it’s without difficulties, the walkway is steep and muddy in some areas. It’s somewhat to be expected, what makes the coastline so beautiful around Abel Tasman is its rugged, wild feel!
A major benefit of visiting the beach by foot compared to boat, is the ability to reach the boulder by wading through the water at low tide. You can walk back and forth exploring every bit and piece of the natural formation before heading to land to relax on the beach.
Tip | Make sure to wear sunscreen at the beaches in New Zealand, the sun is brutal in this part of the world.
Photo by Sharkadventurin
AN UNKNOWN HISTORY OF SPLIT APPLE ROCK
There are plenty of wild theories as to how Split Apple Rock came to be. My personal favorite is the Māori legend proclaiming that in the past, two gods had a tussle over the rock. During their mighty struggle, they split the rock in two. There are even some more scientific theories for the crack, but in this case, I prefer to let my imagination run wild.
Either way, Split Apple Rock is a magnificent sight to see off the coast of New Zealand. Its name is also a fitting one, with the Tasman area chock full of apple orchards. It makes the mysterious object an almost magnetic force, riddled with unknowns and featured in epic tales.
How to get to Tokangawhā?
Reaching the rock itself is easy. Like I mentioned above you can wade out during low tide or see it by kayak or boat. Most of the visits by boat are through Abel Tasman National Park tours. You can find some here.
The trickier part is actually getting there by land. Car is your best option, there are signs leading you towards Split Apple Rock (maps) and Kaiteriteri from State Highway 60. Buses don’t have a route that runs close to the area, although, from Nelson and some other bigger towns in the area, a few shuttle services run to Kaiteriteri. You can check out more info about one of them here.
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