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1 city
Region · Upper South Island
Tasman
Tasman has Abel Tasman National Park, with golden beaches and a coastal track, Golden Bay, Farewell Spit, Kahurangi and the Nelson Lakes.
In the photo: Tokangawhā, Split Apple Rock, in Tasman
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The region
Get to know Tasman
Tasman (Te Tai o Aorere) occupies the northwest of the South Island, between Tasman Bay and the inland mountains. Three national parks lie wholly or partly in the region: Abel Tasman, Kahurangi and Nelson Lakes; the rest of the area is made up of orchard, hop and vineyard valleys. The administrative centre is Richmond, neighbouring Nelson.
Abel Tasman National Park, the country’s smallest national park, has golden sand beaches, clear-water coves and native forest. The Abel Tasman Coast Track, one of the Great Walks, follows the coast for 60 km, and water taxis connect the beaches, allowing you to walk only a section or combine walking and kayaking. Marahau and Kaiteriteri are the southern entrances, and Motueka is the nearest support town.
Beyond Takaka Hill lies Golden Bay, with the village of Tākaka, the Te Waikoropupū springs, known for very clear water, and Farewell Spit (Onetahua), a sandspit over 25 km long that is visited on guided tours. In the same area the Heaphy Track starts, the longest Great Walk, which crosses Kahurangi National Park to the West Coast.
To the south, Nelson Lakes National Park has Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa, surrounded by beech forest, and the village of St Arnaud. Kaiteriteri, with its golden beach and boat departures to Abel Tasman, and Motueka are the most visited towns in the region.
Destinations
1 destination in Tasman
When to go
From December to March, the dry warm weather favours the coastal track, kayaking and the beaches, and overnight places in the park sell out earliest then. Autumn, from March to May, still has pleasant sea conditions and fewer crowds. In winter, days are often clear and cold, and the coastal track remains open.
Getting there
Motueka is about 50 km from Nelson, and Kaiteriteri and Marahau about 60 km; buses link Nelson to the park entrances. To reach Golden Bay, SH60 climbs and descends Takaka Hill, a winding road, to Tākaka. The nearest main airport is Nelson (NSN), and Tākaka has regional flights.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Tasman
Do I need to book for the Abel Tasman Coast Track?
To sleep in the park, yes: DOC huts and campsites require booking and fill up quickly in summer. For day walking only, no booking is required.
How can I see Abel Tasman in one day?
The most common option is to take a water taxi from Kaiteriteri or Marahau to a park beach such as Anchorage or Bark Bay, then walk a section of the coastal track to the agreed pick-up point. There are also guided one-day sea kayak tours.
How do I visit Farewell Spit?
Most of the spit is a nature reserve, and you can only go beyond its base on guided tours that depart from Collingwood. Near the base of the spit there are short walks to Wharariki Beach and viewpoints.
Can you enter the water at the Te Waikoropupū springs?
No. The springs are sacred to Māori and are protected: visits are along boardwalks and viewing platforms, and touching the water is not allowed.