Abel Tasman National Park – There are three main gateways into Abel Tasman National Park—in the south is Marahau and Kaiteriteri, reached by road from Motueka, in the north is Totaranui, reached by road from Takaka in Golden Bay.

Abel Tasman is known for its glittering gold sand beaches, turquoise water and spectacular ocean views. A range of wildlife inhabits the area, including penguins, and there's a seal colony in the Tonga Island Marine Reserve. Regular launch and water taxis provide easy access to the Park from the water.

The Abel Tasman Coastal Track takes three to five days and can be undertaken with or without a guide. There are a number of accommodation facilities ranging from basic Department of Conservation huts and lodges to independently owned lodges with excellent facilities.

Sea kayaking allows you to explore the coast from the water. Freedom camping is an option when overnighting. Kayak rental operators are based at Marahau, Kaiteriteri and within the Park.

Kahurangi National Park – Kahurangi is in the north-west corner of the South Island. Motueka, Takaka, Karamea and Murchison are the Park's gateway towns.

This park has 451,000 hectares of glaciated mountain ranges and rich forest—home to an exceptional variety of native plants and wildlife. There are more than 570 kilometres of tracks in the park. The best-known hiking trail is the Heaphy Track, a walk that takes four or five days from the Aorere Valley across to the northern West Coast and Karamea.

Remote, wild rivers are a feature of Kahurangi. Most are suitable for experienced kayakers only. Commercial rafting tours are available. The Karamea River is prized internationally for its trout fishing. Some of the deepest caves in the world have been found in Kahurangi—recommended only for experienced cavers.

Highlights of Golden Bay:
The road trip to Golden Bay, only two hours from Nelson City, is an extraordinary experience in itself—a scenic drive over Takaka Hill—the marble mountain.

Te Waikoropupu Springs, New Zealand's largest freshwater springs, are set in a reserve protecting old gold workings, regenerating forest and a fine patch of mature bush

Take a guided safari to Farewell Spit—a nature reserve on a sand spit jutting into the Tasman Sea. You can walk on the base of the spit or take a 4WD (four wheel drive) safari along the spit to the lighthouse

Wharariki Beach has a wild and beautiful coastal landscape, where the wind and waves have created massive rock and sand dune formations

Kahurangi National Park, 451,000 hectares of glaciated mountain ranges and rich forest, is home to an exceptional variety of native plants and wildlife