Tramping in Abel Tasman National Park

Abel Tasman National Park lies in a region that gets more sunshine than anywhere else in New Zealand, making it a great place to do some hiking. We chose to walk part of the coastal track, which takes you up through beautiful native bush and along amazingly pristine beaches hidden in numerous sheltered bays and coves.

We took a water taxi out to our furthest point on the track and hiked back out over a two-day period. I think my favorite part was hiking on the beaches — it was so peaceful and quiet. How often do you get a beach this beautiful to yourself?


Parts of the track are tidal, and you have to time these crossings around low tide. Even at low tide, we crossed the Awaroa Inlet in thigh-high water.


A view from the bush reveals one of the many offshore islands.


Sunset at low tide as the moon rises — not a bad view at the end of a long day of hiking!