Abel Tasman National Park Park

Website: https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/abel-tasman-national-park/

Hours: Park open year-round (services seasonal)

Admission: No general admission (park free); fees for campsites, huts and water taxis apply

Abel Tasman National Park lies at the northern end of New Zealand’s South Island and is renowned for its sheltered coastline, golden beaches and native coastal forest. The park protects a mosaic of coastal habitats and is a major destination for walking, kayaking and short boat trips.

The Abel Tasman Coast Track runs along the shoreline and links bays, inlets and campsites across roughly 60 kilometres of marked trail; many visitors combine walking with water-taxi services and sea-kayaking. Beaches such as Totaranui and Anchorage, plus the small bays and forested headlands, are principal highlights for short and multi-day visits.

The park was established to protect the coastal environment and has long been managed for both recreation and conservation, with established campsites, track maintenance and visitor services oriented to low-impact access. Water-based transport supports visitor circulation and reduces long overland approaches.

The park is on the northern coast of the South Island in the Tasman region, with gateway settlements including Marahau and Takaka; Nelson lies to the east and is the nearest significant city providing services and access.

• Coastal track length: The coastal track is commonly walked as a multi-day trail of about 60 kilometres, but many visitors use water taxis to do short sections or return journeys.
• Activities: Sea-kayaking, boat cruises and short guided walks are popular ways to experience the shoreline and circumnavigate tidal sections safely.

What to See#

• Abel Tasman Coast Track: A continuous coastal route along the park’s shoreline used by walkers and multi-day trampers; the full track measures roughly 60 kilometres and links a sequence of bays and campsites.
• Beaches and bays: A sequence of sheltered golden sand beaches and small bays, many of which are accessible only by water taxi or the coastal track and are popular for day walks and sea-kayaking.
• Access points: Small visitor bases such as Marahau and Totaranui serve as common entry points with boat and water-taxi services connecting campsites and beach landings.

The main access point for Abel Tasman National Park is Marahau. From Nelson drive roughly 50-60 km (about 1 hour) along State Highway 6 to the turnoff for Marahau; there is parking at the park gateway. Many visitors use water taxis or water‑transfer services from Marahau (and nearby Kaiteriteri) to reach the park’s bays and trailheads.

• Plan around tide times for the Coast Track (Torrent Bay and some inlets have tidal crossings) and consider using a water taxi from Marahau to shorten the walk or avoid tricky crossings; water taxis should be booked in high season.
• Start very early (first light) on popular sections such as the Hook/Anchorage-Bark Bay stretches to avoid the mid-morning crowds and secure beach spots, or use lesser-used entry points to access quieter inland tracks.
• If you want to avoid the busiest summer weekends, visit in shoulder seasons (spring or autumn) when weather is often still good but day-tripper numbers drop and water taxis are easier to book.