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Routes · Oceania

Los Angeles to New Zealand: Nelson and Abel Tasman

Los Angeles → Nelson → Abel Tasman

Christ Church Cathedral Nelson New Zealand
"Christ Church Nelson 02.JPG" by Stug.stug at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
The Suter Art Gallery, Nelson (Nelson)
Photo: TheSuter, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Golden beaches & coastal trail Best season (general guide): Nov–Apr

Abel Tasman National Park, at the top of New Zealand's South Island, is the country's smallest national park, but its golden beaches and clear water make it one of the most popular. This route spends two nights in Nelson and three by the park. From Los Angeles you'll connect through Auckland.

How to pace it: Spend days one and two in Nelson: day one, the town centre; day two, market and wineries. Then spend days three to five in Abel Tasman: day three, travel to Kaiteriteri, then Split Apple Rock; day four, water taxi and coast walk; day five, sea kayaking.

Nelson is a sunny town with galleries and cafés. Its Saturday market sells local crafts and food, and wineries surround the town.

Kaiteriteri and Marahau are the gateways to the park. Split Apple Rock, a boulder split in two, sits just offshore.

The Abel Tasman Coast Track is one of New Zealand's Great Walks. Water taxis drop walkers at bays along the coast, so you can walk a section and return by boat. Sea kayaking is another popular way to explore, with fur seals on the rocks.

November to April is the best time, with warm weather.

Nelson's region is known for its craft breweries, wineries and fresh produce, and its many artists sell their work in galleries and studios. In the park, beaches such as Anchorage and Te Pukatea Bay are good places to stop for a swim. The water is clear and cool, and the forest behind the beaches is home to native birds. Some accommodation along the coast is reached only by boat or on foot.

Good to know: Book huts, campsites and water taxis ahead in summer through the Department of Conservation. Check tide times, as some crossings on the track can only be made at low tide.

Pack sandfly repellent and a light rain jacket, even on sunny days, and take all rubbish out with you.

Suggested outline

  1. Los Angeles

    Start

  2. Nelson

    By air · 2 nights suggested

    A sunny arts town, with the Saturday market and local wineries.

  3. Abel Tasman

    Overland · 3 nights suggested

    Golden beaches and the Coast Track, by kayak, water taxi or on foot.

    Abel Tasman Coast Track
    "Viewpoint - Abel Tasman Coast Track.jpg" by Department of Conservation, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Nelson — Arrive; the town centre· Los Angeles → Nelson (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day
  2. Day 2 · Nelson — Market and wineries
  3. Day 3 · Abel Tasman — To Kaiteriteri; Split Apple Rock· Nelson → Abel Tasman (overland)
  4. Day 4 · Abel Tasman — Water taxi and coast walk
  5. Day 5 · Abel Tasman — Sea kayaking
  6. Day 6 · Abel Tasman — Travel home from Abel Tasman· Abel Tasman → Nelson (overland), then Nelson → Los Angeles (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Nelson

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Abel Tasman

Nearest airport: Nelson Search fares · Nelson ↗

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