Abel Tasman National Park

Rainforest and beautiful golden beaches

Facing east, the Abel Tasman N.P. is well protected from the westerly winds that batter the ranges of neighbouring Kahurangi National Park. Abel Tasman N.P. is famous for it's lush temperate forest and perfect crescent shaped golden beaches, guarded by ancient granite pinnacles. Stingray are often found bathing in the sunlight of the warm coastal shallows while kingfishers patiently sit over head, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting prey. The temperate rainforest is alive with birds and the coast full of marine life. Abel Tasman is a truly rewarding experience.

Murderers Bay

Abel Tasman National Park was founded in 1942 as part of the tricentenary celebrations of the discovery of New Zealand by Dutch Seaman Abel Tasman. Tasman named the Golden Bay area Murderers Bay after a less then successful encounter with the local Maori. Four of his crewmen in a long boat, were killed by warriors that came out to meet them in their waka (canoe). According to Tasman's ship reports the Maori sounded a horn, unaware that this was in fact a challenge. The Dutch also sounded a horn, thus accepting the challenge of battle. The Maori version of events is unknown, as the tribe from this area was wiped out by a raiding war party some time later.

Beech forest

Today the park is of a much more serene nature. Stands of native beech forest watch over bush clad pools and gentle waterfalls. Cascading streams make their way to waiting tidal estuaries and lagoons. Native birds such as the Kereru, the native wood pigeon, Tui, Fantails and Bellbirds are found through out the wooded regions while Pukeko, Banded rails, Narchcrates and Billerns occupy the coastal shallows of the parks many inlets.Although the land was protected as a national park in 1942, the estuaries, coastal lagoons and offshore islands were not.

Tonga Island

In 1993 the Tonga Island marine reserve came into effect protecting parts of the parks coastline as well as its islands.Tonga Island, about halfway up the park, is home to a colony of fur seals. They're pretty friendly and are very accustomed to entertaining visitors. Pups are often seen playing in the water, jumping over kayaks and swimming around paddles while the adult seals kick back and sun themselves on the rocks. The best way to get out and hang with the seals is as part of a multi day sea kayak adventure, or by water taxi. There are also day cruises and seal swimming trips. Tonga Island is not accessible from the land.

Did you know?

Abel Janszoon Tasman was a Dutch seaman based in the Dutch East Indies at Batavia now Jakarta in Indonesia. Born in 1603 he joined the Dutch East Indies company (VOC) in 1638. In August 1642 he was sent to find the rumoured great southern continent that stretched the pacific . On December 1642 he discovered the south island of New Zealand, Tasman thought he had found the western side of South America. He referred to the land as Staten land which is today Chile. It wasn't until 1645 when explorers realised this was not Staten land that it was given its own name New Zeeland, thought to be named after the Dutch State.