1 Fiordland National Park
2 Tongariro National Park
3 Te Papa Tongarewa
4 Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve
5 Abel Tasman National Park
6 Cape Reinga
7 Queenstown's Skyline Gondola
8 TranzAlpine Express
9 Mount Cook National Park
10 Waitomo Caves
Near the top of the South Island, this is neither New Zealand's largest nor grandest national park, but remains one of the most popular.
This park is named after the first known European discoverer of New Zealand. It is less than an hour's drive northwest of Nelson city and its coastal location offers a refreshing and charming combination of native bush and golden sand beaches. It needs to be explored on foot as road access is limited.
The easy and very popular coastal track is one of the most beautiful in the country and takes two to three days to walk. Be sure to plan and watch out for tides if cutting across the lagoons. There are national park huts available for overnight stays and tickets should be purchased before setting out. Launches also serve the bays so walkers can tackle short sections if they wish. Inland, the higher areas of the Park are more rugged, the landscape a mix of limestone and marble contours. Harwoods Hole at Canaan is the deepest known cave in the southern hemisphere. There are two other national parks in the Nelson region. Kahurangi in the northwest features the Heaphy Track, a good four-day hike, while the Nelson Lakes National Park to the south is known for the twin lakes of Rotoiti (where there is a visitor center) and Rotoroa. Surrounded by high mountains and dense forests, the park offers boating, trout fishing, bush walks, and, in the winter, skiing at the Rainbow and Mt Robert ski-fields. For the more experienced, there are demanding alpine climbs.Address: Northwest of Nelson, via SH60
Phone: 03 528 6543 (Motueka visitor information)
Open: Year round
Restaurant: Awaroa Lodge (Moderately priced); no road access
Bus: Daily tour bus from Nelson
Boat: Ferries from Kaiteriteri and Nelson
Accessible: Few; not suitable
Admission: Free access
Practical: Reduced transport facilities in winter
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