These carnivorous snails slurp earthworms like spaghetti
In February 2025, Justine Hausheer, science journalist for The Nature Conservancy visited the Abel Tasman National Park to investigate the giant worm slurping snails of
03/04/2025
New technology for stoat control
Stoat with chick – David Hallett. Project Janszoon is trialling the latest technology from Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) – the ZIP Motolure – to make
19/09/2022
Kōtuku / white heron
The elegant kōtuku is rare in New Zealand and only breeds near Whataroa, on the West Coast. Outside of breeding season, between September and January,
12/03/2021
Pīwakawaka / fantail
Most visitors to the park will see the distinctive pīwakawaka flitting beside the track as this is one of our most widespread native birds. They
02/08/2018
Pārekareka / Spotted Shag
This shag is becoming very common along the rocky coastline of Abel Tasman – you will often see them at Split Apple Rock on the
02/08/2018
Pukeko
Pūkeko is the New Zealand name for the purple swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio), or which there are many subspecies. You will often see the distinctive blue
02/08/2018
Nīkau palm
The nīkau palm is our only native palm and unique to New Zealand. It is the southernmost member of the palm family and the most
25/06/2018
Pukatea
The pukatea tree is one of New Zealand’s largest with glossy green leaves (puka) and white to grey bark (tea). In the Park, pukatea is
25/06/2018
Northern rātā
Rātā are special because every few years they flower spectacularly, covering the canopy briefly in red and providing huge supplies of nectar to the tui
25/06/2018
Kānuka
Kānuka grows in more fertile drier places and can cover large expanses of hillside. Initially tall and dense it starts to breakdown with age and
25/06/2018
Mistletoe
Mistletoes are pretty rare in the Abel Tasman thanks to a combination of possums, who love to browse on them, and stoats and rats reducing
25/06/2018
Mānuka
Mānuka is one of the most common plants in New Zealand and often linked as one species with kānuka. In fact, it is a different
25/06/2018
Visiting the Park? Download our Abel Tasman phone app
The Abel Tasman Phone App is a free smartphone app with up-to-date information on weather, tides, points of interest, history, plants, wildlife and walking times in Abel Tasman National Park. It has a map with geolocation – so you always know where you are!
Education Tool Box
Our Education Toolbox contains lots of useful information for schools visiting the Abel Tasman.
Park Tool Box
Heading into the park? Checkout the activities, apps and info in our Park Tool Box to help you make the most of your trip.