The Nelson Tasman region is a walking and hiking paradise - tracks wind past white-sand beaches and climb above cliffs that offer panoramic coastal views.
The Nelson Tasman region's Abel Tasman National Park offers well-formed tracks amidst a stunning coastal environment. The track itself is 51km, but can easily be broken up into smaller sections, making it the perfect place to head on a day walk. Local tour operators offer water taxi, sea shuttle, cruise and kayak services, so you can customise your day trip to suit your needs.
For the more advanced hikers, the Kahurangi National Park offers an abundance of untamed wilderness, flowing rivers and rugged peaks to explore, and is the second largest National Park in New Zealand. Likewise, a hike in the alpine ranges of the Nelson Lakes National Park is not for the faint-hearted, although there are a series of lakeside walking tracks for those looking for a short afternoon stroll.
Experience Nelson Tasman's wild north-western coast with a day walk on Wharariki Beach. This 3 - 4 hour walk starts an hour's drive from Tākaka and features unique sand dunes, cliffs and caves. Closer to the city centre, the 1-2 hour Centre of New Zealand walk is one of Nelson Tasman's most popular walks, offering panoramic views of the extraordinary Nelson Tasman region.
