NZ · Tasman · 40.90°S 172.97°E

abel tasman national park

Golden beaches linked by forest tracks, kayak trips and water taxis.

Best time
November–April is warm enough for swimming and kayaking, with January the busiest month. June–August is cool, with short days and fewer boats running.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly to Nelson with one stop, usually via Auckland, about 13–15 hours all in. Marahau and Kaiteriteri, the park gateways, are about an hour's drive from Nelson. New Zealand is 4 hours ahead of KL, 5 during daylight saving (late September to early April).
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NZ · Tasmanabel tasman national park40.90°S 172.97°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Golden beaches linked by forest tracks, kayak trips and water taxis.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingAbel Tasman National ParkNZ, Tasman
KLabel tasman national park
≈ 8,683 km from KL, as the crow flies
Anchorage Bay NZ

Photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir حچاي اچمون-سنير חגי אגמון-שניר · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Abel Tasman is New Zealand's smallest national park: golden beaches, clear green water and forest tracks along the coast. Water taxis let you walk one section of the Coast Track and ride back, with no camping gear needed.

Makan

  1. Picnic lunchThere are no shops in the park, so buy food in Motueka or Kaiteriteri.Map ↗
  2. Tasman fruitApples, berries and kiwifruit from the orchards around Motueka.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Coast Track day walkForest paths between golden beaches like Anchorage, Torrent Bay and Bark Bay.Map ↗
  2. Sea kayakingGuided paddles along the coast, often with fur seals around the islands.Map ↗
  3. Water taxiBoats drop you at a beach up the coast so you can walk back at your own pace.Map ↗
  4. Split Apple RockA round granite boulder split neatly in two, just off the beach near Kaiteriteri.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Take the water taxi out first and walk back, so there's no rush to make the last boat.
  • Awaroa Inlet can only be crossed around low tide, so walks that go that far need planning around the tide.
  • Halal food is hard to find around the park; Nelson is the place to stock up.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.