Upper South Island and the West Coast Top Experiences

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Abel Tasman National Park

Golden sand, sheltered bays, and granite headlands are washed by clear blue water and fast-moving tides; rocky inshore islands provide habitat
Sights

Abel Tasman: One-Day Itinerary

Try a walking/boat trip combo on the beautiful coastal track. Pack a picnic, your sunblock, and walking shoes and, if leaving from Nelson, hit
Sights

Detour: En Route

If you're driving to the West Coast from Nelson or Motueka, State Highway 6 passes through Murchison before turning right at O'Sullivans Bridge
Highlights

Getting Oriented in Upper South Island and the West Coast

In the northeast are the myriad waterways of the Marlborough Sounds. Heading south, you come to sunny Marlborough wine country. From Blenheim
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Kahurangi National Park

Kahurangi is a vast wilderness of marbled karst mountains, glaciated landforms, alpine tablelands, rivers, alpine tarns and beech, podocarp
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Nelson Lakes National Park

Snow-covered peaks and alpine passes sit between two deep brooding, forest-surrounded lakes. Dense native forest, swampy wetlands, and tumbling
Sights

Overnight in Abel Tasman Park

Plan ahead if you want to stay in the park overnight, at either a Department of Conservation (DOC) campground or hut, like those at Anchorage
Highlights

Top Reasons to Go to Upper South Island and the West Coast

Mountains, Glaciers, and Rain Forest: Hiking, climbing, short rain forest and coastal walks, glacier walks and scenic flights, are all popular
Sights

Visiting Okarito Lagoon

Don’t miss a visit to beautiful, coastal Okarito Lagoon, just a 13-km (8-mile) detour off the highway, 15 km (9.3 miles) north of Franz Josef

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