Perfect place to get away from it all, the small township of Torrent Bay has around 45 permanent dwellings most of which are empty through the year. The bay livens up in the summer when most of the properties are used which gives a friendly atmosphere. Kid safe beaches and lagoon, lots of bush walks on your doorstep. Enjoy the feeling of settling down to a refreshing drink while the day trippers are rushing off to board a water taxi. There are 2 homes side be side so larger groups can be catered for. Due to being off grid there is no power available in the units, with the exception of lighting and the fridge freezer. Mobile reception is also patchy, but can usually be found on the front beach, with vodaphone network being better that spark. There is a pay phone in the shed by the jetty with free local calls. Starlink is now available at both properties.
Sunday Star Times had an good article, on Torrent Bay, on the stuff web site back in February which can still be searched. "Heavenly, despite the sandy togs"
Extras: Linen (Optional, NZ$40.00 per person);
NOTE: Under Kiwi bach tradition you are expected to: Clean the house and do the dishes before you leave;
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is no carbon monoxide detector on the property, but there are gas appliances; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
About the area
Torrent Bay
Located in Torrent Bay, this holiday home is by the sea. While the natural beauty of Abel Tasman National Park and Marahau Beach can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can head to Onetahuti Bay Campsite. Discover the area's water adventures with scuba diving and waterskiing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with ecotours and hiking/biking trails.
How much does it cost to stay at In the heart of the park?
As of 18 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at In the heart of the park on 20 May 2026 start from AU$213, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
What time is check-in at In the heart of the park?
Check-in begins at 11:00 AM.
What time is check-out at In the heart of the park?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is In the heart of the park located?
This family-friendly Torrent Bay holiday home is located by the sea, within a 15-minute walk of Onetahuti Bay and Abel Tasman National Park. Abel Tasman Coast Track is 0.9 mi (1.4 km) away.
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We had the best 2 weeks here despite the weather being variable and were sad to leave. Great communication from Stuart, the Bach was clean, comfortable and well equiped. Will definitely be back sometime
Cosy kiwi bach in native bush setting very close to the beautiful beach in Torrent Bay. The bach has everything you need to make you feel comfortable.We stayed over the Easter weekend and despite very wet weather we had a great time.We went for day walks, used the provided kayaks and played lots of games in front of the fireplace. Beautiful place to forget the time and relax in the middle of the Able Tasman National Park
We were two families staying at the Bach and it was perfect! Such a stunning location and everything we needed for 5 days in Paradise... We will be back!!
As long time visitors to Torrent Bay, we always love the convenience of staying at Stuart’s excellent bach. The privacy of the location is second to none, the view from upstairs is lovely and the wildlife love this spot - we had a kākā land on our washing line at one point! Pre-visit communication with Stuart is always fantastic and it was lovely to actually briefly meet him this time as well. We will definitely be back!
We had a wonderful stay and my family had a great time Things we enjoyed:
Spaciousness
Large kitchen for meals and a large fridge/freezer
Location to the beach and walks and yet private
Use of the kayaks and life jackets
Things that can be improved - these are only small but can make a big difference to future guests:
Kitchen did not have any tea towels - having tea towels would be really appreciated;
There was hardly any liquid for washing dishes - we had to borrow some from a neighbour
The place was not that clean when we checked in - there was rubbish (tin cans etc) possibly thrown by other guests at the back of the property. We understand that the property is close to the bush and cobwebs and critters are normal, but when you are at Abel Tasman, we expect to only see nature and seeing rubbish is heart breaking.
We would return to stay, but it would be appreciated if the standard of cleanliness was raised and the kitchen was better equipped with the suggestions above. Many thanks for a great stay.
Neeraj D.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Feb 2023
Hi Neeraj,
Thanks for the review.
There wasn't any T towels as you didn't ask for linen and said you were bringing your own. The house was clean and tidy when you arrived, the floors had all been vacuumed and mopped. all surfaces had been wiped down and the fridge was spotless.
I noticed the cans on the bank at the back of the property when I went down yesterday. They had been thrown down the hill from the house behind. There may have been cobwebs on the outside of the house but they are very hard to control being so close to the bush.
House rules also state that the house had to be cleaned before leaving. I had to vacuum the whole house after your stay. The kitchen bench was covered in crumbs, the fridge and freezer needed cleaning, there was spilt food or tea on the wall and oven beside the bin and on the cupboard doors.
There was also marks on the walls up the stairs that needed sugar soap to remove. None of the mats had been taken out and sand shaken out of them.
There obviously was not much effort to clean before you left, as you were away by 08:00
Verified
4/10 Poor
Ann B.
2 Jan 2019
A bach in need of some basic care
I didn’t expect much. I knew I was renting simple accommodations, in a beautiful, fairly remote area, during peak season. And we were going to pay a lot for. So the bar was already set low. What frustrates me about this house is how little care the owners appear to put into this house. I understand the nature of the bach is, upon leaving, the guest is expected to clean and make the house tidy for the next. But this house does not appear to have been properly cleaned in decades. There is a level of grime that appears to have a foundation originating from 1981. I heard a large critter scrurry across the floor at night and there was evidence of there presence on the floor. Along the side and behind the house is a jungle of plants which has also not been cleaned out in decades, certainly provides a wonderful habitat for these critters, as well as for the mosquitos whose abundance makes sleeping with the (screenless) windows open impossible. This may be a good time to describe the composting pile directly next to to the back door ( which is the only entry which works with a key). Composting is great and is a perfect way to dispose of refuse in this national park, but having it so close to the house is not ideal. The beds are fairly comfortable and because we were traveling within New Zealand had to pay for the expensive ($90!) service. We received towels (I appreciated the kitchen towels), but only bottom sheets and pillow cases and no top sheet or cover to use with the comforter. There are kayaks to use but there were only child sized life jackets. It is a place to unwind and unplug, but not providing one outlet, since the refrigerator has a plug, seems just silly (lazy). And that’s what appears to be the final assessment of this bach, there is a substantial lack of care. The owners have rented this house out 1000 times. It is a beautiful location so it sells itself. But the lack of care of the building and grounds, and simply the rental profits, appear to be the owners only concern. I must add that communication was poor. I would not have known about the key code had I not met the previous tenant on the beach. My family can enjoy ourselves anywhere but we collectively agreed that this place was a dump!
Ann B.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Mar 2020
Ann,
I am sorry you felt this way about the house.
It is, and always be a bach, in the middle of a National park, so I'm afraid you will get native bush at the back door. Yes they are critters living in the surrounding, but I very much doubt that they would be in the house at this time of the year when there is an abundance of food in the bush.
Landscaped gardens I’m afraid are just not an option here, maybe you forget that the only access is by boat which is a 40min trip from the nearest road, and there are no full time residents.
I would disagree with you regarding the cleanliness of the house, it was thoroughly cleaned prior the season and again prior to the previous guests who classified themselves as OCD in cleaning.
The Laundry is supplied by a local company in town, I will check the bags prior to returning to see if the order was short. If I had to drop off and collect laundry,($60 round trip each way) take it home wash, dry and iron it then I’m afraid the charges would be higher or laundry would just not be available.
I will also check the lifejacket situation as there have always been a variety of sizes including adult in the shed.
I am not sure why you did not know the code for the lock box, it was sent through the HomeAway website on the 1st December along with the info sheet and map!
The website and info sheet specifically stated that there is no power at the house with the exception of lighting and fridge freezer, this is due to the property being completely off grid, there is nothing lazy about not installing power points.
We have actually rented the house 50 times so I am not sure where you got your information from, maybe it has been viewed 1000 times.
Again I’m not sure about the poor communications as we had 6 discussions via the website at the start of December prior to your stay.
We had a wonderful and relaxing time at this property. It's a great location a short walk to the Torrent Bay beach and right on the Abel Tasman track. The house is spacious and well equipped. Although off grid, there is a helpful charging port and refrigerator/freezer. We would stay there again!
We had the best time in Torrent Bay- it’s the perfect spot! The house was great, a true Kiwi Bach! Extra handy features were the big fridge for all our food, USB charging point for our GoPro/cameras to capture all the memories (we loved not using our phones-so nice!), the wet area shower/bathroom and the outside tap/shower to hose off sand. The bach is so close to the beach, perfect for watching sunrises, sunsets & some NY fireworks. We loved our stay, thankyou!!
Had an awesome time in Torrent Bay. The Bach has everything you need, and is so close to the beach. First time visiting Abel Tasman and the location is great for exploring other parts of the park. Thanks so much Stuart!
I have stayed in this bach a number of times and will be back again. The friendly owner is very helpful and quick to answer any of my questions. Thank you.
This is a traditional kiwi bach located 50m from the beach - it's quiet and private. There is everything you need for a relaxing holiday, comfy beds, lots of books and games etc. The kayaks were fabulous and added so much to our stay - the kids had a great time exploring the lagoons. The solar power worked fabulously, there's USB points for phone charging and a big new fridge. Friends booked the adjoining bach, so to have two places together, but our own space, was fantastic. We will definitely be back. The location is outstanding.
We loved our stay at this property in Torrent Bay. You could not ask for a better location and it had a great mixture of water activities and walks to cool spots such as Cleopatra's pool and Falls River swing bridge. We choose to stay and do short walks as we were travelling as two families with children between 6 - 9 years. Communication with the property owner was excellent and very quick. Thanks a lot