The Abel Tasman National Park is one of the most popular and famous national parks in New Zealand. It is situated on the northern coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The Abel Tasman National Park was founded in 1942 and was named after Abel Tasman who was the first European explorer to sight New Zealand. It is one of the smaller national parks in the country with covering an area of just 225 km2.

Bounded to the north by the waters of Golden Bay and Tasman Bay, the Abel Tasman is mountainous and forested to the north of the valleys of the Takaka and Riwaka Rivers, while the interior of the park is home to many caves and potholes. The beaches which lie between the Mean High Water and Mean Low Water Springs are designated as a Scenic Reserve and cover a total area of about 774 hectares.

The Abel Tasman National Park is most famous for its golden beaches, stunning granite cliffs, and many walking tracks, the most popular of which is the world famous Abel Tasman Coastal Track. This 51 km track is one of the most beautiful in New Zealand, passing a number of stunning sights along the way. This track follows the coastline past numerous beaches and gorgeous bays and is a very easy walk. Ideal for all ages, in the summers you will find huge numbers of people tramping here. The Abel Tasman Coastal Track takes about 3 to 5 days to complete with some excellent camping sites along the way. If you prefer cabins are also available for hire furnished with beds, cooking facilities and fresh water for drinking. The best time to walk here is during the summer months i.e. from November to March.

The Abel Tasman National Park has mild climate all year round and is considered a good place to visit any time in the year. Other popular activities to enjoy in this national park include; sea kayaking, sailing, fishing, camping and sightseeing. You can also enjoy some caving opportunities here as well, however, these caves are meant for experienced cavers only.

The Abel Tasman National Park is administered by the Department of Conservation, while the Scenic Reserve is administered by the Tasman District Council (TDC) Chief Executive and Department of Conservation’s Nelson/ Marlborough Conservator.