Destination Abel Tasman | Abel Tasman Travel Guide

Abel Tasman Wikipedia

Abel Tasman is most well known for it's golden sandy beaches and some cool rocky outcrops. Unlike most national parks in New Zealand, Abel Tasman National Park has been modified and this is evidenced by a variety of vegetation cover which reflects the areas history of land clearance.  The forests are regenerating well however and there are places where a variety of plants can be found.

The more common forest birds, like tui and bellbirds, can be seen along with pukeko around the estuaries and wetlands. The park's boundary excludes the estuaries and seabed but in 1993 the Tonga Island Marine Reserve was created along one part of the Abel Tasman coast on the northern coast of the South Island. Like a national park, all life in the reserve is protected.

Featured Attractions & Activities

• Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures
  
• Kahu Kayaks
  

Abel Tasman History

A Dutchman named Abel Tasman was the first European to visit New Zealand, he arrived in what is now known as Golden Bay with two ships in December 1642. He lost a few of his crew in fights with the locals, the Ngati Tumatakokiri. These Maori had lived along this part of the coast for around 500 years, gathering food from the sea and local forests.

Permanent European settlement began in the 1850's. The europeans were prosperous for a while by logging forests, creating pasture and  building ships, but there isn't much evidence of their settlement anymore. There was much concern that there would be more logging in the area and so the government  agreed to turn 15000 hectares os land into a national park.  On the 300th anniversary of Abel Tasmans first visit, 1942, this national park was named Abel Tasman National Park.