Abel Tasman National Park
Abel Tasman is a national park located in the far north of the South Island, in the southern part of Golden Bay in New Zealand. The National Park was established in 1942. It occupies a small area of only 225.3 km2 and is the smallest national park in New Zealand. The park is named after Abel Tasman, who was the first European to discover the New Zealand side in 1642.
The seaside in Abel Tasman Park has long been a popular tourist destination. It runs along the entire rugged and repeatedly blocked by cliffs and overgrown ravines coastline, replete with secluded coves and dazzling white deserted beaches. The coastal forests are home to such rare New Zealand woodland birds as thuja and honeyeater. They can be seen along with the pukeko bird in the mouths of dry rivers and wetlands. Abel Tasman Park has more than 200 species of plants, birds and animals that live exclusively in these places.
There are a lot of sightseeing companies on the shore where you can rent a kayak. The most popular route is past the picturesque Apple Rock. If you want to sail outside the national park, you can go to the islands – for example, the island of Tonga (where seals and penguins live) or the densely forested Adele and Fisherman Islands. Abel Tasman is a good option for both beginners and advanced kitesurfers. The best beaches in the national park should be found in the bays of Apple Tree, Bark, Te Pukati and shell Anchorage. The wide Kayteriteri Beach is very good, which looks like a crescent moon from a bird's-eye view.
