Abel Tasman National Park

Abel Tasman National Park lies at the northern end of New Zealand's South Island in the Tasman District. Established in 1942 to mark the 300th anniversary of Abel Tasman's 1642 sighting of New Zealand, it covers about 237 square kilometers, making it the smallest of the country's national parks by area despite ranking among the most visited. Much of the park was cleared for farming by early European settlers, and its coastal forests, sub-alpine bogs, and dunes are now being restored, supporting more than 70 bird species. The popular 60 kilometer Abel Tasman Coast Track runs along its eastern and northern shoreline.