Abel Tasman National Park Area Guide
With its golden sand beaches, crystal clear waters and tranquil lagoons the Abel Tasman National Park is one of New Zealand's most beautiful coastal areas.The park lies between sunshine-filled Tasman and Golden Bays, 60 kilometres north west of Nelson. From the tiny seaside settlement of Marahau, just north of Motueka, the park winds north along the coast, past pretty Torrent Bay and the offshore marine reserve of Tonga Island, to the sandy beach at Totaranui and on to Wainui Bay.
Named after the Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman, who visited here in 1642, the park is New Zealand's smallest national park, measuring just 20 kilometres by 25 kilometres. The park is hugely popular during the summer months, when trampers come to walk the 51-kilometre Abel Tasman Coast Track, one of New Zealand's Great Walks. The track is one of the gentlest of the country's multi-day walks, climbing slowly through green wooded valleys to the coast and along the wide sandy beaches. For those who don't want to walk the entire track water taxis offer pick-ups and drop-offs along the way, making it easy to walk short sections of the route.
The park's sheltered waters and secluded coves make it a great place for messing about on boats. Sea kayaking operators based at Marahau, Kaiteriteri and Totaranui offer freedom or guided kayaking, or combined kayaking, hiking and camping trips. There is good snorkelling and scuba diving in the marine reserve off Tonga Island, where there is a resident colony of fur seals and frequently visiting dolphins.
To escape the summer time crowds and gain a view of the park which few visitors get to see, well-equipped trampers can walk the three-to-five day Inland Track between Wainui and Marahau. The route climbs from sea level through regenerating forest and up on to granite outcrops and offers great views of the coast.