Abel Tasman popularity?

off the scale busy,,,,, 200,000 people in the warmer months. its scrubby bush, and steep, hard to find somewhere to camp off the track.

It is not to bad, because the camp sites are bookings only it prevents them from becoming overcrowded. If you want solitude, Able Tasman Coastal track is not for you.

Thanks for that . We aren't looking for solitude but am trying to combine a few tramps staying in tents in the top of the south for 2 weeks. My other plans were up the Cobb valley and also via there to the tops around lake Sylvester. Our kids are 6 and 8 and are getting more and more capable as time goes on but we don't want to push them too much in terms of hours per day. Its definitely a budget trip for us as well so free camping is a preference. We are from Taranaki and going to the south island is a big deal for us and the kids. Thats why i was trying to combine a coastal trip with a mountain and mountain valley experience. weather permitting of course. Any other ideas are welcome , please, thanks. We were familiar with many areas of Nelson/ Marlborough. Pre kids we spent a fair bit of time in the Richmond park and Kahurangi. We were hunters more than trampers then, and stayed well away from the popular tracks. Ive been on google earth and have seen that scrubby steep bush you mention waynowski. It may prove too much of a challenge at the end of the day to find bush tent sites away from the main track.

Cobb Valley is also very popular (but not in the same league as the AT). Fenella hut is a good spot but no campsites (well, a small one near the woodshed). Cobb hut is better for campsites, as are the Tent camp and Chaffey hut. Directly above Fenella, there is a good campsite on the Lockett tops. https://tramper.nz/16432/campsite-on-the-lockett-range/ You can also head up to/past Cobb Lake to Round Lake, then up to Mt Gibbs and back down around the bottom of Xenicus .... some climbs that would test youngsters but you can break it into 2 days. Sylvester hut has good camping too and the tops are very accessible although it's a sharp climb, for little legs, from Iron Lake.

Plenty of solitude in there at the moment, we went through last Thurs to Sat, we were the only campers at Anapai and Bark Bay the two nights. Hardly saw anyone else at all...

that looks very nice on the Lockett tops . thanks for the pic. Definately great options up that way.I talked to Doc today and the guy said that all the huts and most campsites were booked until end of April this year by november last year on the AT walk. I can see how the booking system would enhance the experience on such a popular walk. Times have changed and I'm getting to grips with it.