Plan a summer trip to Abel Tasman National Park. Explore neighborhoods, restaurants, places to stay and practical local advice from AVARA's full editorial…
Abel Tasman National Park — TL;DR
The South Island's golden-beach coastal park, where Kaiteriteri Lodge's on-site bar sits steps from kayak launches into Abel Tasman's coves.
Abel Tasman National Park overview
December to March (summer) offers the driest weather for hiking coastal tracks and kayaking the park's coves.
Marahau sits at the eastern edge of the park closest to the entrance, with Kaiteriteri and Motueka serving as the larger gateway towns and Nelson just under 2 hours away by train for a bigger-city base.
New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
English and te reo Māori.
NZST (UTC+12, UTC+13 in summer)
Abel Tasman's hospitality scene continues to center on the three gateway towns — Kaiteriteri, Motueka, and Marahau — with Kaiteriteri Lodge's on-site restaurant and bar and The Barn's steps-from-the-entrance location reflecting a backpacker infrastructure built entirely around access to the park's kayaking and hiking.
Where to eat, drink & do in Abel Tasman National Park
Abel Tasman National Park neighborhoods
Kaiteriteri The largest town close to Abel Tasman National Park, within short walking distance from the beach where most activities operate from.
Motueka Home to Happy Apple Backpackers, within short walking distance from the beach, with easy access to shops and eateries.
Marahau At the eastern edge of the park, home to The Barn and a small but quality clutch of eateries just steps from the park entrance.
Practical info for Abel Tasman National Park
Getting around in Abel Tasman National Park? Marahau sits at the eastern edge of the park closest to the entrance, with Kaiteriteri and Motueka serving as the larger gateway towns and Nelson just under 2 hours away by train for a bigger-city base.
When to go in Abel Tasman National Park? December to March (summer) offers the driest weather for hiking coastal tracks and kayaking the park's coves.
What's changing now in Abel Tasman National Park? Abel Tasman's hospitality scene continues to center on the three gateway towns — Kaiteriteri, Motueka, and Marahau — with Kaiteriteri Lodge's on-site restaurant and bar and The Barn's steps-from-the-entrance location reflecting a backpacker
Seek out Happy Apple Backpackers' large kitchen in Abel Tasman National Park? A hostel with plenty of outdoor space and a large kitchen in Motueka, a quieter base than the busier Kaiteriteri strip.
Base yourself in Kaiteriteri in Abel Tasman National Park? The largest town close to Abel Tasman National Park, within short walking distance from the beach where most activities operate from. Known for main gateway town, activity hub.