Abel Tasman National Park

New Zealand'S Smallest And Most Popular National Park, A String Of Golden Sand Beaches And Clear Turquoise Water Along The Top Of The South Island, Walked As A Multi Day Great Walk Or Seen By Water Taxi And Sea Kayak Between Marahau And Totaranui · Marahau, Tasman

Abel Tasman National Park, at the top of the South Island, is New Zealand's smallest national park and, by visitor numbers, its most popular - a string of golden beaches and turquoise water running north from the gateway village of Marahau. The Abel Tasman Coast Track, a Great Walk, follows the coast for about 60 kilometres between Marahau and Totaranui, usually walked over three to five days with nights in Department of Conservation huts or campsites. Most visitors see the park without walking the whole track, using water taxis out of Marahau or Kaiteriteri to reach beaches like Anchorage and the remote Awaroa, or paddling the coast by sea kayak. Split Apple Rock, a granite boulder cleanly split in two offshore, and the swimming hole at Cleopatra's Pool are the most photographed stops. Several inlets, including Awaroa and Torrent Bay, can only be crossed on foot at low tide, forcing walkers to plan around tide tables. Fur seals haul out near Separation Point, and the Tonga Island Marine Reserve protects the waters offshore.

The top of the South Island, reached through the gateway village of Marahau, Marahau, Tasman, New Zealand

The park itself has no gate and is open at all hours, but practical access is governed by water taxi timetables, running multiple daily departures from Marahau and Kaiteriteri roughly 8am to 4pm, more frequent in summer and reduced or weather-cancelled off season. DOC visitor centres in Nelson and Motueka keep standard business hours, roughly 8:30am to 4:30pm. Tidal inlet crossings on the Coast Track are only passable within a window either side of low tide - check tide tables, not a fixed time of day, before setting out.

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