The Nelson/Tasman region has two of New Zealand's Great Walks – the Abel Tasman Coast Track and the Heaphy Track, both in the Golden Bay area.
The Motueka area includes a variety of landscapes for visitors to walk through including Mt Richmond Forest Park, the southern part of Abel Tasman National Park, and the headwaters of the Karamea and Motueka rivers.
In the Nelson Lakes area you can walk through the Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project or explore the inner reaches of Nelson Lakes National Park by tramping the Travers-Sabine Circuit.
The Golden Bay area covers the rugged north-west coast and the extensive shallow bays and estuaries of Golden Bay. At its tip is Farewell Spit, an important bird sanctuary.
An A-Z listing of all Nelson/Tasman tracks and walks.
back to top
There are extensive walking and mountain biking opportunities on conservation land throughout New Zealand.
Walks in the West Coast region include Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & Blowholes Walk, Fox Glacier Te Moeka o Tuawe Valley Walk, Franz Josef Glacier Walk and New Zealand's longest Great Walk, the Heaphy Track.
Explore some of the walks and tracks found in the Marlborough region, including the Queen Charlotte Track, Molesworth Station tramping tracks and the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway.
Walking tracks from Aoraki Mount Cook Village, Arthur's Pass day walks, the Mueller Hut Route and many other tracks and walks in the Canterbury region.
NZ weather
DOC maps: Discover the outdoors - DOC's key places, campsites, tracks and huts, and visitor centres on a map
Check, Clean, Dry between waterways and stop the spread of didymo.
Follow the Outdoor Safety Code:1. Plan your trip2. Tell someone3. Be aware of the weather4. Know your limits5. Take sufficient supplies
Alerts for Nelson/Tasman places
Give feedback on a recent visit to a DOC place