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Abel Tasman National Park: 3 ways
1. GREAT WALKS
The park is well known for its 60km, three to five-day Great Walk but a water taxi can also transport you to the most popular sections. Some of the best inland hiking tracks are reached from Golden Bay. Try Harwoods Hole (45 minutes one way) to see the deepest vertical shaft in New Zealand, or Wainui Falls (1hr 20min return) for an ethereal waterfall.
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2. BOAT TRIPS
Full-day pleasure boat tours depart (and return) Kaiteriteri Beach, and water taxis depart both Kaiteriteri and Mārahau, calling at all main beaches as far north as Tōtaranui, dropping passengers directly on the beach. For luxury, charter a yacht or stay overnight on a boat moored at Anchorage Bay.
3. BAY WATCH
From Anchorage Beach, follow the Pitt Head Trail to access beautiful Te Pukatea Bay, as well as the crystal-clear Cleopatra’s Pools, complete with natural waterslide. Get to Anchorage Beach by hiking from Bark Bay or Mārahau (around three to four hours walk) or catch the water taxi from Kaiteriteri. Better yet, dolphins and penguins are regular spectators round here.
KAITERITERI
Kaiteriteri is a seaside resort in the Tasman Region, providing all the elements of a great Kiwi holiday: sunshine, seclusion and three unforgettable beaches with clean sand and sparkling water. It’s also a haven for mountain bikers – the Kaiteriteri Mountainbike Park is a fantastic, purpose-built park. Conveniently, Kaiteriteri is just 10km from Mārahau, the main gateway to Abel Tasman National Park.
Don’t Miss
FAREWELL SPIT - These huge dunes form a landing strip for thousands of migratory shore birds from the northern hemisphere. The 35km-long sandspit is home to 90 bird species and is protected as a Wetland of International Importance. Access can be limited because tours departing Collingwood and Pūponga depend on the tide: it’s a good idea to plan ahead.
GOLDEN BAY - Drive over the Tākaka Hill and you’ll arrive in glorious Golden Bay. The only way in and out is by road. Camping by this startling stretch of sun-kissed sand is one of the definite must-do’s in this region.
COLLINGWOOD - Just 25 minutes north of Golden Bay, Collingwood is perfectly situated for the Heaphy Track in Kahurangi National Park. You’ll also find tours to Farewell Spit here. Rent a mountain bike and explore Aorere Valley; kayak to Ruataniwha Inlet; horse trek along the beach and admire the town’s historic architecture.
Horse riding, Wharariki
Cape Farewell Horse Treks
GATEWAY TO THE PARK
There are two ways to get into Abel Tasman National Park. Walk in from Mārahau (20 minutes on foot) or if you’re coming from the north, enter via Tākaka.
Twenty minutes north of popular Kaiteriteri, Mārahau offers a lovely beach and places to stay. You can book water taxis, hire kayaks and embark on the Coastal Walking Track.
A GRAND DAY OUT
NGARUA CAVES - A hidden treasure in every way, these huge caverns are burrowed deep into the Earth and conceal 300 metres of cave trails and the skeletal remains of an extinct moa.
ANATOKI SALMON - Coax out your inner hunter and gatherer and fish for your salmon dinner on scenic Lake Anatoki. The team will then fillet, smoke and serve your catch.
TE WAIKOROPUPŪ SPRINGS
You won’t find clearer water than that at Te Waikoropupū Springs. Actually, you will, but only in Antarctica. A mere 10-minute drive from Tākaka, an almighty 14,000 litres of water pumps from the ground every second, which at its deepest has a staggering 63 metre visibility. The springs are sacred to Māori, who have shared this idyllic spot with the public but ask visitors not to make any contact with the water, or to eat, drink or smoke nearby.
Te Waikoropupū Springs
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NELSON LAKES
In Māori mythology two lakes were created when Chief Rākaihautū dug two holes, one hole for Lake Rotoroa and the other for Lake Rotoiti.
Nelson Lakes National Park is sublime. The aqua-violet hues of its 16 lakes make the landscape astonishing. Rotoiti and Rākaihautū are the most iconic lakes and you can’t visit Lake Rotoiti without jumping off its ‘Insta-famous’ jetty. If you’re staying overnight, St Arnaud village makes an ideal base for exploring this incredible area.
