Abel-Tasman-Nationalpark
The Abel Tasman National Park protects a 225.3 km ² large area on the north coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is located at the northern end of a ridge between the two gulfs Golden Bay and Tasman Bay, about 70 km from Nelson. The altitude ranges from sea level to about 1150 m.
The park can be reached by Nelson from over Motueka on the SH 60.
Flora and Fauna
The national park is famous for its numerous small bays with sandy beaches and turquoise waters and its granite cliffs. At the same time, more than three-quarters of the national park are forested. The wildlife of the park is dominated by its seabirds. For example, white-faced, black-winged stilts, Taraseeschwalbe, Tui, Makomakos, morepork and little penguin are native. About 70 species of birds can be found in the national park.
Climate
The climate is mild in the coastal region with 2200 hours of sunshine per year. At higher altitudes fall greater amounts of precipitation and the temperatures are lower. The annual average temperature is 12.5 ° C, annual precipitation is about 1380 mm.
History
In Abel Tasman National Park is more than in other New Zealand park next to the nature also of the history of human colonization present. So settled along this stretch of coast before at least 500 years, the first Māori to. 1642 the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman was the first European New Zealand and went to anchor here. From about 1855 began the colonization of the region by white immigrants who struck wood and tried to gain arable land by burning. It was also locally mined in quarries granite. Early in the 20th century recognized the need to protect the unique environment from further exploitation. Of the human impact is today, because the area is a nature reserve, to notice only relatively little. A geological feature of the park provide its karst and caves ( in the range of Takaka Hill and Canaan Downs ) dar.
New Zealand's smallest national park in 1942, 300 years after Abel Tasman landing, decorated and named after the explorer. Among the visitors of the park especially of the 51 km long coastal footpath (Abel Tasman Coastal Track ) is popular. Another popular way to explore the Abel Tasman National Park, is a kayak trip along the coast. Starting point for most tours are the places Marahau and Totaranui, the southern and northern end of the coastal footpath. In 2004, 184,000 visitors visited the park, making it one of the most visited national parks in New Zealand.
- The sea lying off the coast of Abel Tasman National Park Marine Reserve is strictly protected by the immediately adjacent 18.35 km ² large marine reserve Tonga Iceland since 1993.
Gallery
Quiet coves along the way ...
And deserted beaches ...
This torrent Inlet (temporarily flooded bay )
View of Tonga Iceland
Look at Anapai Bay