Nelson New Zealand

Named for Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who first visited the region in 1642, this national park is New Zealand's smallest - but it's perfectly formed for relaxation and adventure.

Visitors love the way the Abel Tasman National Park mixes physical exertion with beach life. Bursts of hiking or kayaking are punctuated by sun bathing, swimming and sedate snorkelling around the characteristic granite outcrops.

Those who crave home comforts can stay in luxurious lodges, but sleeping under the stars is regarded as the ultimate way to experience the spirit of the Abel Tasman.

The strip of coast that falls within the boundaries of the park is highly distinctive. Granite and marble formations fringe the headlands, which are cloaked in regenerating native forest. Inviting sandy beaches fill the spaces between trees and tide line. Crystal clear streams tumble down mossy valleys to join the ocean.

At Te Pukatea Bay, a perfect crescent of golden sand, a walking track leads up Pitt Head to an ancient Maori pa (fort) site. Terracing and food pits are still visible, and it's easy to see why the location was chosen as a defensive site - the views are huge.

Native wildlife is an essential part of the scenery. Tui and bellbird song fills the forest; shags (cormorants), gannets and little blue penguins dive for their dinner; fur seals lounge on the rocks around the edge of Tonga Island.

Classed as one of New Zealand's 'Great Walks', the Abel Tasman's Coastal Track takes between 3 and 5 days to complete. It climbs around headlands and through native forest to a series of beautiful beaches. The track is walkable at any time of the year. Expect to see lots of other walkers and day visitors in summer. For a different view of the park, there are inland tracks that lead up to the dramatic karst landscape of Takaka Hill.

A number of kayaking companies run guided tours from Marahau and Kaiteriteri. If you'd rather be independent, you can rent kayaks and stay at campsites, huts or lodges within the park - just as you would if you were hiking.

For those with only a day to see the park, water taxi companies can provide a personalised mix of sightseeing by boat and track walking. Pre-booking is advised. Enquire at Motueka, Marahau or Kaiteriteri.

Golden Bay lies at the edge of the junction between the Tasman Sea and Cook Strait. It stretches for 45 kilometres from the long sand spit of Farewell Spit in the north to Separation Point in Abel Tasman National Park at its southern extremity. Beyond this point, the larger of the two bays at the top of the South Island, Tasman Bay, begins.

The northern part of the bay is largely devoid of population; the southern part contains the populous but small plains around the mouth of the Takaka River. Between the two lies the small town of Collingwood. Other than the Takaka River, the Aorere River is the main watercourse to reach the sea at Golden Bay.

Dutch explorer Abel Tasman anchored in this bay in 1642. However, resulting the hostile encounter with the local Maori when a party from his ships tried to land caused him to bestow upon it the name Murderers Bay. English explorer James Cook renamed it Golden Bay during his voyage of discovery in 1769.

The Te Waikoropupu Springs ('Pupu Springs') are located in Golden Bay, in the Nelson Region. The horizontal visibility of the water in the springs has been measured at an average of 63 metres, a world record for fresh water. The springs are notable for the volume of water discharged from the eight main vents. It is estimated that 14,000 litres of water are produced per second, approximately enough to fill 40 bathtubs.

Ranking in the top ten freshwater diving destinations in the world, these springs have become a mecca to divers seeking the ultimate in freshwater dives. The unique natural features have created a reputation that has spread, captivating visitors from all parts of the globe.

The floor of the lake is covered with white sand. Waters expelled from some of the smaller vents carry the sand upward. These vents are known as the 'dancing sands', which for the few scuba divers who have secured permission to dive in the springs, is one of the highlights of underwater sightseeing.

Situated at the western end of State Highway 60, Collingwood is a quiet town, but there’s plenty to do if you love nature. From here you can launch yourself onto the Heaphy Track in the Kahurangi National Park or catch an eco-tour to the bird sanctuary of Farewell Spit. It’s easy to rent a mountain bike to explore beautiful Aorere Valley, or a kayak to paddle around Ruataniwha Inlet. Other local activities include caving at Te Anaroa Caves, studying minerals at Rockville and horse treks along Wharariki Beach, where there’s a seal colony. Perched as it is on the edge of Golden Bay, Collingwood is a place to enjoy scallops.

Takaka is located at the south eastern end of Golden Bay in the Nelson region. With a community that includes many alternative lifestylers, it’s a town full of character. There’s a small museum, a movie theatre and a great choice of shops and cafés. The town also offers plenty of value-for-money accommodation, including backpacker lodges, B&Bs and homestays. If you’re planning to hike in Kahurangi National Park, Takaka is a good place to take on essential supplies. Other nearby attractions include Waikoropupu Springs, the largest freshwater springs in New Zealand, and an art trail that will reveal the region’s creativity.

Marahau guards the eastern entrance to the Abel Tasman National Park. Here you can book water taxis, hire kayaks or set off on the Coastal Track. The settlement offers a range of backpacker and self-contained accommodation; the camping grounds are very popular over the summer holiday season.

Marahau's attractive beach offers safe swimming. For a memorable meal, make yourself comfortable at the local café – it has grand views of the beach and the national park. If you plan to stay overnight in the park, you’ll need to purchase hut/campsite tickets from the Department of Conservation (Takaka or Nelson).

Over the harvest months, Motueka is a busy town. The local pip fruit and hops growers employ seasonal labour which swells the population, and many visitors use the town as a supply point for explorations of the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks.

The town has a small museum and there is no shortage of interesting places to eat – you can even dine in a converted church in the main street. Motueka also has a lively artistic community, so the craft and art galleries are worth a look. Take a stroll along the waterfront walkway or drive to the Riwaka Resurgence, where the river emerges from a marble cave.

The City of Nelson stands on the southern shore of Tasman Bay, at the northern end of the South Island of New Zealand and is the administrative centre of the Nelson region. Nelson received its name in honour of the 1st Viscount Nelson and Admiral of the fleet that defeated both the French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Many of the roads and public areas around the city are named after people and ships associated with that battle and Trafalgar Street is the main shopping axis of the city. Inhabitants of Nelson are referred to as Nelsonians.

Nelson is an entertaining city in many ways. From a cultural point of view, it provides the chance to appreciate New Zealand art, both in galleries and in artists’ studios. The district has attracted creative people who work with glass, metal, stone, wood, clay, sand, paper, ink, paint and fabric. Nelson is also appealing from a lifestyle point of view. There are wineries scattered around the Moutere Hills and the Waimea Plains. In the city, you’ll find a good selection of restaurants – some with huge views of Tasman Bay. Activities include skydiving, rock climbing, 4WD biking, horse treks, sailing charters and water fun at the excellent beaches. Many people believe Nelson has the best climate in New Zealand, in that it regularly tops the national statistics for sunshine hours, with an annual average total of over 2400 hours.

A compact area of mountain ranges separated by forested valleys, the Nelson Lakes National Park promises all levels of challenge for keen hikers and mountaineers.

In Maori mythology the lakes were created by the great chief Rakaihaitu digging holes with his ko (digging stick). One hole became Lake Rotoiti (small waters) and the other became Lake Rotoroa (large waters).

Known for its magical honeydew beech forests, which feed a variety of tuneful nectar-eating native birds, the park provides an easy wilderness escape. The nearby village of St Arnaud is a comfortable, well-equipped base for visitors.

The spectacular landscape of Nelson Lakes National Park was sculpted by massive glaciers during the most recent ice ages, and many glacial landforms remain - lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa are the two most obvious examples.

From January to April, the thick beech forest that cloaks the lower regions of the park shimmers with a coat of honeydew, filling the air with a delicious sweetness. The honeydew - each drop poised on the end of a threadlike tube that protrudes from the trunk of the tree - is created by scale insects, which process the tree sap into pure sugar. For many native birds, lizards and insects, the honeydew is a source of high-energy food.

The Department of Conservation is actively working in the park to create a pest-free refuge that will support greater numbers of kaka, kakariki and bush robins, as well as giant snails and native bats.

Just south of Nelson, the town of Richmond is a service centre for the farms, orchards and vineyards of the Waimea Plains. Pip fruit and berries are grown here, as well as hops for the beer industry. Richmond is a peaceful base for the region’s many attractions. From here you can discover wineries, beaches, art galleries, beautiful river valleys and horse treks.

There are three national parks close at hand – Nelson Lakes, Abel Tasman and Kahurangi. The nearby Richmond Ranges are a great place for hiking and mountain biking. In winter you can ski at Rainbow Valley. Richmond has a comprehensive shopping area and a good choice of eating places.

The village of St Arnaud sits at the edge of Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson region, providing an ideal base for people who plan to hike or fish in Nelson Lakes National Park. At the local Department of Conservation visitor centre you can learn about the ecology of honeydew beech forest; the centre can also provide guides to the local walks and treks, some of which take several days to complete.

Both Lake Rotoroa and Lake Rotoiti are well known for their fine brown trout. Nearby Rainbow Ski Field is generally open from June to October. St Arnaud has a broad range of accommodation and a choice of eating places.

Murchison calls itself the ‘whitewater capital’ of the country, because there are rivers everywhere – the Gowan, Mangles, Matiri, Glenroy, Matakitaki, Maruia and the mighty Buller. For anybody into canoeing or kayaking, it’s a dream come true. The rivers vary from Class 2 to 4 whitewater, so they’re not for the faint hearted.

Rafting, jet boating, gold panning and fishing are other ways to enjoy the river environment. There are several excellent mountain bike trails in the area; hire bikes are available. Originally a gold rush town, Murchison was almost completely destroyed by a huge earthquake in 1929 – you can find out all about it at the district museum.