By air
Nelson (NSN), ~1 h by road to Marahau
Australia & New Zealand · New Zealand
Abel Tasman, New Zealand
Golden beaches along a coastal track
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to March — summer
Don't miss
Anchorage Bay
Split Apple Rock
The Tonga Island marine reserve
Awaroa
Things to do
Walking the coast track
Sea kayaking
Water taxis between beaches
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia · Public domain
What to pack
Hiking gear, swimwear, sunscreen
A quieter corner
Cleopatra's Pool, a natural rock slide
Questions travellers ask
How do I get to Abel Tasman?
Fly into Nelson (NSN) and try its craft beer and seafood; Marahau is about 1 h by road.
What's the best way to explore Abel Tasman?
Walk the coast track, go sea kayaking, and hop between beaches by water taxi.
What should I see along the Abel Tasman coast?
Anchorage Bay, Split Apple Rock, the Tonga Island marine reserve and Awaroa. Look out for Cleopatra's Pool, a natural rock slide.
When should I go to Abel Tasman, and what should I pack?
December to March, in summer. Pack hiking gear, swimwear and sunscreen.
About Abel Tasman
- Coastal
- Forest
Where it is
Abel Tasman National Park lies at the top of New Zealand's South Island, in the Tasman region between Tasman Bay and Golden Bay, with golden-sand beaches, granite headlands and forested hills along its coast.
History
Māori lived along this coast for centuries, and the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman anchored in Golden Bay in 1642, the first recorded European visit to New Zealand, where a clash with Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri left four of his crew dead. The national park was created in 1942, on the 300th anniversary of his visit.
People
Few people live within the park; the nearby towns of Motueka, Kaiteriteri and Marahau are home to orchardists, boat operators and guides, and English is the everyday language. Iwi of the top of the South Island, including Ngāti Rārua and Te Ātiawa, are the area's tangata whenua.
Known for
- The Abel Tasman Coast Track
- Sea kayaking along the coast
- Split Apple Rock
- Water taxis between golden beaches
- Fur seals at Tonga Island Marine Reserve
Did you know?
Abel Tasman is New Zealand's smallest national park, yet its Coast Track is one of the country's Great Walks and among the most popular.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.