The best things to do in Abel Tasman National Park
And, how to visit this stunning coastal park
ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK is home to some of the best beaches in New Zealand.
The park is spread along the very top of the South Island, encompassing golden bays and dense native forest. It’s this combination that makes it feel so special to me — there’s something magical about the forest coming all the way down to the water.
The deserted beaches feel like some combination of Costa Rica and Jurassic Park.
I have visited Abel Tasman probably around six times (I’m losing count) hiking the coastal track, camping, kayaking, and going for day walks.
I’ve gone in from the Nelson end and the Golden Bay end (and if pushed would say I prefer the end closer to Golden Bay) and have my favourite beaches, out of the many to choose from.
If you’re curious about exploring Abel Tasman, these are the best things to do in the park, and some of the tips and advice I’ve collected from my time there.
Walking the Abel Tasman Coast Track
One of the main things to do in Abel Tasman National Park is walk some or all of the coast track.
This is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, which means it’s one of the best hikes in the country.
It truly is stunning, with sweeping views of the coast and the track frequently passes by beaches where you can dump your bag, strip off, and jump into the turquoise water to cool off.
You don’t even need to be a big hiker to tackle some of the track — you can do small sections combined with a water taxi on day trips, or choose to go for one, two, or three nights.
Walking sections as day hikes
Starting from Marahau, you can walk as far as you feel comfortable. There are a string of bays along the track, and you can get to some lovely beaches fairly quickly.
I spent a week staying at The Barn Cabins and Campground, which is right at the start of the track, and each day after work I would just set off and see where I ended up.
Staying in the huts
For a longer trip, you can book spots in the huts. But, over summer, spaces are very limited and get booked up very quickly.
Camping
If you want to do a multi day trek along the Abel Tasman Coast Track, camping is a great way to go.
That is, unless it rains.
The first time I walked the track, we had torrential rain, which made camping a nightmare. Many hours were spent huddled under wet canvas, trying to resist the urge to have to go pee and killing time by watching random Netflix shows we had downloaded.
I was so disappointed with that trip that I went back and redid a camping trip.
It was much better in the sunshine.
Kayaking and hiking Abel Tasman
We did a three day kayak and hike trip — two days kayaking, with one day hiking.
We booked with Abel Tasman Kayaks, which although somewhat unorganised when we arrived, provided us with everything we needed. Which to be honest, wasn’t much.
They gave us all the gear we needed and taught us how to pack and manage the kayaks, then after a brief training session on the water we set off and were on our own.
Abel Tasman day trips
Where to stay in Abel Tasman National Park
In the park
Awaroa Lodge is the ultimate Abel Tasman experience.
I have never stayed here myself, but each time I have hiked past I have stopped for lunch and a coffee at the restaurant. It’s a bit of a treat to have a deluxe meal in the middle of the wilderness.
Marahau
The Barn Cabins & Camping is a nice campground right at the start of the coast track. I stayed in a dorm room here, even though I was travelling in my van at the time, as the price of a bed was basically the same as camping.
I shared the dorm with other interesting travellers, including a woman and her teenage son — I thought it was nice to see more than just backpackers.
Kaiteriteri
Itineraries that pass by Abel Tasman National Park
You can visit Abel Tasman even if you only have around 10 days in the South Island. If you would like help planning your itinerary, take a look at my itinerary planning service.
Thanks for reading this far. I hope this helped you plan your visit to Abel Tasman. If you enjoyed my recommendations, you might also like these articles:
