Expertly Curated Guides for Exploring Abel Tasman National Park in the Tasman District

New Zealand's smallest national park protecting a stunning coastal landscape shaped by centuries of Māori history and ongoing ecological restoration

Abel Tasman National Park

Abel Tasman National Park occupies a remarkable position at the northern end of New Zealand's South Island, where the waters of Golden Bay and Tasman Bay converge to create a distinctive coastal environment of sheltered inlets, offshore islands, and forested hills rising from the shoreline. At just 237.1 square kilometres, it stands as the smallest of New Zealand's national parks, yet its accessibility and scenic quality make it one of the most frequently visited. The park's landscape tells a complex story of natural beauty and human modification. Forested ridges descend through mixed woodland to meet a coastline of sweeping beaches, tidal creeks, and dramatic rock platforms. The Tata Islands shelter in Golden Bay while Tonga Island, Motuareronui/Adele Island, and Fisherman Island dot the waters of Tasman Bay. These islands have remained free of introduced mammalian predators and support wildlife populations that have vanished from the mainland, making them critical conservation areas within the broader park ecosystem. The park's coastal fringe below mean high water is designated as a scenic reserve, while the adjoining Tonga Island Marine Reserve extends protection into the marine environment. Visitors arrive primarily through the small settlements of Mārahau or Kaiteriteri, gaining access to the legendary walking tracks that follow the coastline through some of New Zealand's most picturesque terrain.