Sea kayaking is arguably the best way to see the park — and at peak times, the most pleasant, since paddling avoids the busiest sections of the Coast Track entirely. The protected water inside the islands, the constant supply of beaches to land on for lunch, and the reliable presence of fur seals on Tonga Island make this one of the best coastal kayaking environments in the country.
Marahau and Kaiteriteri both have multiple operators offering rentals, day trips, and multi-day kayak-and-camp trips. The classic three-day itinerary paddles Marahau–Anchorage–Bark Bay–Onetahuti–Tonga Island and back, with overnight stays in campsites or huts. A single-day trip out to Adele Island and back from Marahau is the easy taster. The afternoon nor'wester can pick up sharply from around 2 pm in summer — early starts pay off.