Kevin's Guide to Nelson, New Zealand - Visiting Nelson (Our National Parks)

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Nelson is blessed by being the only city in New Zealand which is within one and a half hours drive of three National Parks. Throw into that a Maritime Park, and just off the eastern edge of the city, a very large State Forest Park. On top of this, there are numerous scenic reserves throughout the region.
For those venturing into the Parks and wanting to stay overnight, it is necessary to obtain tickets enabling you to use the huts BEFORE you enter the Parks. The tickets are obtainable from any of the Park Headquarters or from the tourist information offices in the area.
The main Parks are:

Kahurangi National Park
Abel Tasman National Park
Nelson Lakes National Park
Marlborough Sounds Maritime Park
Mt. Richmond Forest Park

Kahurangi National Park

This National Park was opened in May 1996 and is mostly what was previously known as the Northwest Nelson Forest Park. There are entrances to the Park at Bainham (near Collingwood), near the Westhaven Inlet (to the north-west of Collingwood), Cobb Valley (turn off at the foot of the Takaka Hill on the Takaka side), near Karames (on the West Coast) and several side valleys from the Motueka River Valley. Some of the oldest geological formations in New Zealand are found here.
There are large areas of mountainous country which are covered in snow during winter. Some of the mountains, like Mt. Arthur, and the nearby Twins, are higher than the highest mountain in Australia, yet they make a good day's tramp to the top.
Some highlights of the Park include:

Tramping.
There are numerous tramps available from the various entry points, with degrees of difficulty ranging from easy wanders along well formed tracks lasting an hour or so to difficult tramps lasting several days over very poorly formed tracks.
The most famous of these tramps is the four days it takes to walk the Heaphy track from Bainham (near Collingwood) through to Karamea on the West Coast along a well formed track with good hut facilities along the way.
To the south of Mt. Arthur is another four day tramp, the Wangapeka Track. Nowhere as well known as the Heaphy, it is a bit more rugged and takes you from Tapawera (about an hours drive up the Motueka Valley from Motueka) through to Karamea on the West Coast.
Caving
The Nettlebed System - one of the most extensive [over 27km charted so far] and deepest [over 900 metres] in the world - is situated here. Entry is off the Pearce Valley (off the Motueka Valley), below Mt. Arthur. Recommended for experienced cavers only (or as part of a party including experienced cavers) - it can take several days to explore even a fraction of the caverns that have been mapped in what is the largest cave system in the Southern hemisphere.
There is another caving system under Mt. Owen further to the south. It is believed that there is a connection between this system and the Nettlebed System - if so it will be the largest caving system in the world. Precautions are the same as for the Nettlebed System.

Looking over Rabbit Island towards Mt Arthur in the Kauhrangi National Park.
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Abel Tasman National Park

One of the smallest, but most popular National Parks in New Zealand with lots of easy walks and safe beaches. There are three main entrances to the Park - Totaranui in Golden Bay, Canaan, off the top of Takaka Hill, and at Marahau
Highlights include:

Harwoods Hole
Walk through native forest to one of the largest holes in the world (over 200 metres down and over 15 metres in diameter, all the way down). Access is through Canaan, and the round trip from the car park is about two hours over fairly well formed tracks, except for the last little bit where it is a bit rougher. There is also a lookout point just above Harwoods Hole where you get some great views down over the Takaka Valley in Golden Bay.
Abel Tasman Walk
One of the most popular tracks in New Zealand and known all over the world, along the coast of the National Park. The walk, over very well formed tracks, takes you past safe beaches during the two or three days from Totaranui to Marahau (or the other way round). It is not unusual to find over 1,000 people on this track on any one day during the summer months - with a very high proportion of them being non-english speakers.
Sea kayaking, including visiting the local seals.
This is readily available through several commercial operators who are licenced to operate these tours inside the National Park.

Towards Abel Tasman National Park, from above Tahunanui, in Nelson.
Marahau and the Southern shoreline of the Abel Tasman National Park.
Totaranui and the Northern shoreline of the Abel Tasman National Park.
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Nelson Lakes National Park

Just off the bottom of the map on the introduction page, the Nelson Lakes National Park is mainly alpine country with a few lakes to add to the majestic scenery.
As with all alpine regions in New Zealand, take warm clothing with you regardless of the time f the year. I have seen a brilliantly fine sunny day at Lake Rotoiti change so that two hours later, the sun is shining again, but with six inches (15cm) of fresh snow on the ground - in the middle of summer.
National Park headquarters is at St. Arnaud, about an hour and a half south of Nelson. Nelson Lakes transport operates a regular passenger service to/from Nelson.
During late summer, Lake Rotoiti becomes the centre of attention with a speedboat regatta (usually sometime in February/March) and a sailing regatta (usually somewhere around Easter) both being held on the lake

Alpine tramping.
There are numerous tramps available in the Park, ranging from the fairly easy Pennisnular Walk at St. Arnaud to the marked trails over the Angelis Pass towards the Lewis Pass at the southern end of the Park, which is rarely visited.
Skiing
Water skiing in summer and snow skiing in winter. Lake Rotoiti, one of the two main lake in the National Park, and the one on whose shores St. Anaud lies, is popular with water skiers and the boaties during the summer, while Mt. Robert, which forms a backdrop to the lake, has its own club ski field for the snow skiers in winter. On the left of Lake Rotoiti, is the St. Anaud Range, home of the Rainbow Ski Field, a commercial operation during the winter months.
Lake Rotoroa
Lake Rotoroa is the other big lake in the National Park and is a haven for the fishing enthusiest.

Mt. Robert in the Nelson Lakes National Park.

Thumbnail of, and Link to photo of Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park

Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park.
Click on the above photos for the bigger view - they will open in their own windows.

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Marlborough Sounds Maritime Park

This Park is reached through either Havelock (about an hour from Nelson) or Picton (about an hour and three quarters from Nelson - where the ferries to the North Island leave from).
Lots of fishing, boating, and walks/tramps in the midst of lots of beautiful scenery.

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Mt. Richmond Forest Park

This large park sits between the Nelson and Marlborough provinces. Unfortunately, it is not marked on the map on the introduction to Nelson page, but is basically on the bottom right corner of the map (under the North direction arrow) and goes right across to Nelson, Richmond, Brightwater, Wakefield, and south.
It contains many tracks for walks/tramps, of varying degrees of difficulty and length.

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