Abel Tasman National Parkis located at the top of the South Island. It is the smallest of all national parks in New Zealand, with an area of 22,500 hectares (87 square miles). The park is best known for its coastline of picturesque bays, golden sand beaches, clear waters and small islands. Both sea-kayaking and tramping (trekking) are especially well suited to discovering and enjoying this coast.
The park was founded in 1942, and covers 225 km squared. It consists of an area of forested hill country to the north of the valleys of the Takaka and Riwaka Rivers, and is bounded to the north by the waters of Golden Bay and Tasman Bay.
It is named after Abel Tasman, who in 1642 became the first European explorer to sight New Zealand.
The nearest large town is Motueka, 20 kilometres to the south.
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