Abel Tasman Activities

Abel Tasman National Park is a great place to get out and explore, tramp or kayak. It’s natural walking tracks and untouched waterways are spectacular. The beach is a great place to slow down, get away and relax. Abel Tasman is the smallest National Park in NZ, but still covers 22,350ha of land.

It would be hard to imagine a more perfect piece of coastline - clear turquoise waters, golden beaches, rocky headlands, lush native forest and all kinds of interesting wildlife. The Abel Tasman National Park is a coastal paradise that you can walk through or explore by boat, water taxi or sea kayak.

The year round temperate climate attracts people of all ages, all backgrounds, during all four seasons. Camping, walking, swimming, fishing, sailing, and sea-kayaking make this a very popular summer holiday destination. In winter the National Park is quiet, with fewer people, mild temperatures and calm seas perfect for kayaking.

Abel Tasman is near the town Nelson and Nelson is a lifestyle, that’s the best way to describe it. Sitting at the top of the South Island, it’s the sunniest region in New Zealand with a geography which captures everything from the long golden beaches to untouched forests and rugged mountains.

Perhaps it’s the sun, perhaps it’s the location, but Nelson has long been a magnet for creative people. There are more than 350 working artists and craftspeople living in Nelson, traditional, contemporary and Maori. Visit their studios and find a unique piece to take home with you.