Abel Tasman National Park 
The Abel Tasman National Park lies at the northern tip of the South Island, on the promontory between Tasman Bay and Golden Bay.
The park - one of the most visited of New Zealand's National Parks - is open throughout the year. The main season is in December and January, and to be sure of a place on a campsite or a bed in a hut at that time you must book months in advance.
The park - one of the most visited of New Zealand's National Parks - is open throughout the year. The main season is in December and January, and to be sure of a place on a campsite or a bed in a hut at that time you must book months in advance.
|
Must-see attractions nearby:
|
The French seafarer and explorer Dumont d'Urville, who surveyed the north coast of the South Island in 1826-7, was overwhelmed by the beauty of the scenery. Nowadays tourists, walkers, water-sports enthusiasts and scuba divers are drawn to the national park by its beautiful coves and inlets, bizarrely shaped limestone cliffs, tiny islets and beaches of golden sand, some of which can be reached only by boat or on foot. Since the establishment of the national park the vegetation has recovered from the effects of earlier over-felling.
In the southwest of the National Park there are a number of cave systems, some of them still not completely explored. The best known cave is Harwood's Hole, which is 300m deep.
Warning The caves in this area can sometimes be dangerous because of the brittle nature of the rock.
In the southwest of the National Park there are a number of cave systems, some of them still not completely explored. The best known cave is Harwood's Hole, which is 300m deep.
Warning The caves in this area can sometimes be dangerous because of the brittle nature of the rock.
Motueka Department of Conservation
King Edward Street and High Street
Motueka, Nelson-Marlborough
New Zealand
King Edward Street and High Street
Motueka, Nelson-Marlborough
New Zealand
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
Related Attractions
Read More
Anapai Bay (Mutton Cove, Separation Point)
North of Totaranui are Anapai Bay (1 1/2 hours there and back), Mutton Cove (3 hours) and Separation Point (5 hours), the most northerly point on the promontory.
Cleopatra Pool (Falls River Valley, Cascade Falls)
From Torrent Bay there are popular trails to the Cleopatra Pool (1 1/2 hours there and back), Falls River Valley (1 1/2 hours) and Cascade Falls (2 hours).
Gibbs Hill
Further north is Gibbs Hill (400m), from which there are great panoramas. A half day should be allowed for this walk, which starts from the same road.
Lookout Rock
The Lookout Rock, from which there are fine views of Golden Bay, is also reached from the Takaka-Totaranui road (1 1/2 hours there and back).
Skinner Point (Goat Bay, Waiharakeke Bay)
South of Totaranui along the beach are Skinner Point (40 minutes there and back), Goat Bay (1 1/2 hours) and Waiharakeke Bay (3 1/2 hours).
Wainui Falls Walk
The Wainui Falls Walk (2 hours there and back) runs from the Takaka-Totaranui road to the Wainui Falls (21m high).
Abel Tasman National Park Surroundings
Kaiteriteri Beach
14km north of Motueka is the magnificent beach of Kaiteriteri, and 10km beyond this is the beautiful beach of Marahau, at the end of the Coastal Track.
Cape Farewell
30km north of Collingwood is Cape Farewell, the most northerly point on the South Island. From the cape the Farewell Spit, a narrow, desert-like sandbank 30km long reaches out to the east. It is largely a bird and seal sanctuary and can only be visited on organized coach tours.
Collingwood, New Zealand
30km northwest of Takaka, at the mouth of the Aorere River, which here flows into Golden Bay, is the little village of Collingwood (pop. 200), named after Nelson's Admiral Collingwood. The first settlers arrived here in 1842, and the place enjoyed a boom from 1857 onwards when gold was discovered in the neighborhood. The village is a good base for interesting walking expeditions in the surrounding area.
Golden Bay
There are a series of beautiful beaches in Golden Bay (Pohara, Tata, Paton's Rock, Tukurua).
Kaituna Track
The Kaituna Track (3 hours) runs from the Aorere valley (15km south of Collingwood) to the excavations and spoil heaps of the 19th C gold-diggers.
Motueka, New Zealand
25km south of the national park, on Tasman Bay, is the little port of Motueka (pop. 5000). In its fertile hinterland are large plantations of berry fruits, kiwi fruit, apples, hops and tobacco. Before the arrival of European settlers there was a large Maori population in this area. For many years it was accessible only by boat.
The Te Ahurewa Maori church was built in 1897 on the initiative of Frederick Bennett, who in 1928 became the first Maori bishop.
The Te Ahurewa Maori church was built in 1897 on the initiative of Frederick Bennett, who in 1928 became the first Maori bishop.
Motueka Visitor Information Centre
Wallace Street
Motueka, Nelson-Marlborough
New Zealand
Wallace Street
Motueka, Nelson-Marlborough
New Zealand
Pupu Springs
The Pupu (Waikoropupu) Springs have an abundant flow of water - most of it from the Takaka River, which in a dry summer can disappear completely underground. Gold diggers were active in this area in the 19th C.
Takaka, New Zealand
On the northwestern edge of the national park is the little township of Takaka (pop. 1300), which was founded in 1842. It lies at the foot of Marble Mountain, which provided the marble used in the Parliament Building in Wellington and the cathedral in Nelson. Features of interest are the little Takaka Museum and the Golden Bay Work Centre and Artisan Shop.
Golden Bay Visitor Information Centre
Willow Street
Takaka, Nelson-Marlborough
New Zealand
Willow Street
Takaka, Nelson-Marlborough
New Zealand
Te Anaroa Caves
8km southwest of Collingwood are the karstic caves of Te Anaroa. Near the caves are bizarre rock formations.
Upper Moutere
A few kilometers south of Motueka is the fruit-growing area of Upper Moutere, originally settled by German immigrants. The Lutheran church was built in 1905; in the churchyard are gravestones with German inscriptions.
Wharaiki Beach
To the west of the cape are beautiful Wharaiki Beach and Whanganui Inlet (Westhaven).
