Abel Tasman National Park
The Park is renowned for its golden beaches, sculptured granite cliffs, and world-famous Abel Tasman Coast Track.
Abel Tasman National Park is a national park located at the north end of the South Island of New Zealand. It is named after Abel Tasman, who in 1642 became the first European explorer to sight New Zealand. It has a mild climate and is a good place to visit at any time of the year.
The park was founded in 1942, largely through the efforts of ornithologist and author Perrine Moncrieff to have land reserved for the purpose. Moncrieff served on the park board from 1943 to 1974. [2]
The park was opened on the 18 December 1942 to mark the 300th anniversary of Abel Tasman’s visit. [3] Those in attendance at the opening ceremony at Tarakohe included Charles van der Plas, as personal representative of the Netherlands’ Queen, Wilhelmina. The Queen was made Patron of the park. [4]
The idea for the park had been under consideration since June 1938. The Crown set aside 37,622 acres, being 21,900 acres of proposed state forest, 14,354 acres of Crown land and 1,368 acres of other reserve land for the national park.[5] The Golden Bay Cement Company donated the land where the memorial plaque was sited.[3] The area’s primary historic interest was the visit of Tasman in 1642, D’Uville in 1827, and the New Zealand Company barques Whitby and Will Watch, and brig Arrow in 1841. The site was also of significant botanical interest.[ 5]
By 1946 the park had reached 38,386 acres in area with additional land purchases. A further 2,085 acres at Totaranui, formerly owned by William Gibbs was acquired from J S Campbell in 1949 and added to the park.[6] About 15,000 acres have been added since.
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