Natural New Zealand

Abel Tasman is on New Zealand's South Island and is the country's smallest national park. It is named after Dutch explorer and merchant Abel Tasman who in 1642 became the first European to visit Aotearoa - New Zealand. What is interesting about the park is that you can hike and camp its more than 55,000 acres and you'll always end up on the glorious golden beaches and in the gorgeous turquoise water. It's perfect for the traveler who likes to be outdoors and exploring. You can hop on a boat that will take you past a small outcropping where seals spend their time and if you're lucky, you might catch sight of a dolphin. Click on any of the photos below to enlarge them.





To learn more about Abel Tasman National Park, click here. For my previous post about the park, click here.

This last picture I shot on the ferry that runs between New Zealand's two main islands. This is a look back at the South Island as we set out on the Cook Strait, headed for the North Island. I just thought the way the light hit the land looked amazing and I wanted to capture the excitement I felt as we hit the open water. Later, the ride became so choppy that majority of people on the ferry ended up throwing up. The distance is only about 12 miles but the ride itself takes about three hours. In this case, it was a very long three hours.