Nelson Tasman & Golden Bay - Guide for Backpackers© www.nelsontasman.nz
Nelson Tasman & Golden Bay - Guide for Backpackers

Nelson Tasman & Golden Bay – Guide for Backpackers

© www.nelsontasman.nz

Three National Parks in One!

This has to be on every backpackers’ must-visit list! The Nelson Tasman District and Golden Bay receive long sunshine hours and mild winters. Not only does the region get good weather, but there’s a ton of ways to enjoy it! We’ll go through all the highlights in this Nelson Tasman and Golden Bay guide!

Three national parks surround the area: Abel Tasman, Kahurangi and Nelson Lakes. Towns in the Tasman District provide abase for activities in the national parks. A couple of the towns themselves have beautiful beaches and walks, which is just an indicator of what you’ll discover in Abel Tasman.

To explore further into the region, cross the Takaka Hill to Golden Bayforcaves, crazy rock formations and never-ending beaches to enjoy.

Things You Can’t Miss in Tasman and Golden Bay

  • Eat delicious seafood and jump off the wharf in Mapua
  • Find adventure by skydiving or paragliding in Motueka
  • Relax on the beach at Kaiteriteri
  • Start the Abel Tasman Great Walk from Marahau
  • Take on the huge selection of water activities taking you to Abel Tasman National Park
  • Explore caves and a huge sandspit at Golden Bay.

Tourism NZ© Tourism NZ

Nelson

The biggest hub for the Nelson Tasman region is Nelson! The sunniest city in New Zealand is a great place to base yourself for mountain biking, exploring the city, and excursions into the Abel Tasman National Park as a great deal of activity providers pick-up in Nelson.

Nelson’s claims to fame including being the official geographical centre of New Zealand where a walk to the Centre of New Zealand viewpoint is a must-do. There are also heaps of quirky stores and galleries in town including the Jens Hansen Ringmakers which were the official ring-makers for The Lord of the Rings. You can also step back in time by visiting Founder Park, walk through numerous city gardens and so much more!

For more details on what to do in Nelson, head to Nelson – Guide for Backpackers and the 10 Things to Do in Nelson on a Rainy Day.

Tom Collett opn Wikipedia© Tom Collett opn Wikipedia

Mapua

If you love stuffing your face with a waterfront view, then Mapua is the perfect place. Situated by the Waimea Estuary, Mapua is a host to good eateries, recreation and art.

Hire a bike in the small town and take the ferry over to Rabbit Island. Not only will you get a tour of the estuary, but you can spend the day on the island riding the bike trails in between relaxing on the beaches.

Delicious seafood is easy enough to come by in Mapua. Taste hot-smoked salmon and greenshell mussels at The Smokehouse and Jellyfish Cafe. Drink local coffee and wine by the waterfront at The Apple Shed Cafe.

Don’t leave Mapua without being a loon and bellyflopping off the wharf!

Mattinbgn on Wikipedia© Mattinbgn on Wikipedia

Motueka

A great place to get some seasonal work and meet other backpackers. Kiwifruit, hops, pipi fruit and wine grapes are grown in the area attracting workers looking to extend their working holiday visa or needing to make money quickly.

While you are in the area, you might as well see a shipwreck. Janie Seddon Shipwreck is towards to south of Motueka Quay. And, that sandspit you see ahead? You can walk on it! Access the sandspit from the north of Motueka Quay.

Motueka is also the place to before doing the adrenaline and adventure activities in the Tasman District, such as the Abel Tasman Skydive, taking you as high as 20,000ft. Find out more on Viator and Tripadvisor.

A more soothing way to see the Abel Tasman National Park from the sky is by hang gliding and microlight flying. Or mingle with seals in the national park, by taking a sea kayaking trip. Kayaking trips with The Sea Kayak Company goes to Tonga Island and includes a walk on the Falls River track, complete with swingbridge and waterfalls. Find out more on Viator and Tripadvisor.

Get more inspiration from our 10 Amazing Things to Do in Motueka.

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

Kaiteriteri

One of the region’s gateways to the Abel Tasman National Park, Kaiteriteri has a pretty nice beach a sign of what’s to come in the Abel Tasman National Park.

Wedged between the beautiful coastline and a 180ha mountain bike park, is the Kaiteriteri township. Play mini-golf in true seaside town style. If you can’t be bothered cooking in your hostel, you have the option of either the Shoreline Cafe or Gone Burgers takeaway.

Walks in Kaiteriteri

If you have restless legs while in Keiteriteri, take one of the walking tracks close to town.

  • Kaiteriteri Walk – Walk to Little Kaiteriteri Beach, while getting a good lookout out on the hill between Kaiteriteri’s 2 beaches along the way.
  • Stephens Bay Walk – Take the above walk further by starting at Little Kaiteriteri beach to Stephens Bay.
  • Kaka Pa Point – A Maori pa site, which has stunning views of Kaiteriteri and Abel Tasman.
NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

Marahau

Marahau is the eastern gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park and the start of the Abel Tasman Great Walk! Remember to book the backcountry huts if you are planning on staying in the park overnight.

It is the much quieter village compared to the town of Kaiteriteri, but no less beautiful. The long stretch of beach is safe for swimming, walking and horse riding. Plus, there’s plenty of accommodation making it an ideal base for exploring the Abel Tasman National Park.

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

Abel Tasman Activities

Starting from Kaiteriteri or Marahau, there are a number of ways to access the Abel Tasman National Park by water.

Feel like you are living the high life by taking a scenic sailing tour – find out more on Viator and Tripadvisor. You can also take the sea shuttle and aqua-taxi no-nonsense ways of getting straight to the national park over water. Play in water by paddle boarding, waterskiing, biscuit rides, banana boat rides and wakeboarding.

Kayak around the national park’s nooks and crannies, getting close to wildlife along the way.

For more activities, check out Abel Tasman National Park – Guide for Backpackers.

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

Golden Bay

“Over the hill” lies another land! Golden Bay can only be accessed by Takaka Hill a range of hills and a “Marble Mountain” made up of unusual rock formations. One formation worth seeing is the Ngarua Cave, a 300m trail through stalactites and stalagmites. You can also see the skeletal display of the extinct moa bird.

For a free cave option, visit the Rawhiti Cave. It takes an hour to walk from the nearest car park into the cave full of coloured stalactites.

The zigzagging road to the top of Takaka Hill rewards you with views of Nelson and Tasman Bay. Take the 45min walking track from Canaan Car Park to Harwoods Hole. This is a 183m (600ft) deep hole! Only experienced cavers should explore its depths.

A walking track you can’t miss in Golden Bay is the Wainui Falls Track, a 30min walk through forest, farmland and granite rock. Obviously, the stunning waterfall awaits you.

Wharariki Beach is famous for the arched rock seen off the coast. By doing a walk from Whaririki Beach to Farewell Spit, you’ll see rolling sand dunes, seals, gannets, rock pools, caves and off-shore islands.

For more information, take a look at the 10 Golden Bay Must-Dos and 10 Amazing Things to Do in Takaka.

If You Have More Time in the Tasman District and Golden Bay…

  • Learn to fly and do aerobatics in Motueka
  • Go saltwater fishing from Port Tarakohe, Golden Bay
  • Admire river views from the historic Salisbury Bridge, Golden Bay
  • Town-hop in Golden Bay to see their arty charm – check out Collingwood, for example
  • Take a wine tour in Motueka
  • Check out the town of Richmond

Author

Laura S.

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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