Abel Tasman National Park
🇳🇿 New Zealand
🦭 Fur Seals Basking on Golden SandAbel Tasman National Park sits at the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, protecting a coastal temperate forest of beech and regenerating scrub bordered by golden sand beaches and granite cliffs. Unlike the alpine terrain found in other southern reserves, this protected strip features sheltered tidal estuaries and calm coastal waters that merge directly with dense coastal greenery.
-40.909° S 172.974° E
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
VOC
Haematopus unicolor
★ 
Long-nosed Fur Seal
Arctocephalus forsteri
★ 
White-headed Stilt
Himantopus leucocephalus
📊 Most Spotted
Dominican Gull
Larus dominicanus
Tūī
Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
New Zealand Fantail
Rhipidura fuliginosa
Weka
Gallirallus australis
Silvereye
Zosterops lateralis
Welcome Swallow
Hirundo neoxena
Silver Gull
Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
South-west Pacific Swamphen
Porphyrio melanotus
Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
New Zealand Bellbird
Anthornis melanura
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
White-faced Heron
Egretta novaehollandiae
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Common Brushtail
Trichosurus vulpecula
Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
Common Hedgehog
Erinaceus europaeus
Brown Hare
Lepus europaeus
Stoat
Mustela erminea
Leopard Seal
Hydrurga leptonyx
Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
Long-finned Pilot Whale
Globicephala melas
Southern Elephant Seal
Mirounga leonina
Hector's Dolphin
Cephalorhynchus hectori
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Dominican Gull
Larus dominicanus
Tūī
Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
New Zealand Fantail
Rhipidura fuliginosa
Weka
Gallirallus australis
Silvereye
Zosterops lateralis
Welcome Swallow
Hirundo neoxena
Silver Gull
Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
South-west Pacific Swamphen
Porphyrio melanotus
Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
New Zealand Bellbird
Anthornis melanura
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
White-faced Heron
Egretta novaehollandiae
Recent sightings in Abel Tasman National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
2Seal Pupping Season
Long-nosed fur seals give birth and nurse pups on rocky outcrops, especially around Separation Point.
3Tūī Dawn Chorus
The melodic calls of the Tūī fill the forest canopy at dawn during spring breeding season.
1Seabird Migration Peaks
Large flocks of migratory seabirds, including terns and gulls, pass through the park’s coastal waters.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Seabird Migration Peaks
- 2Seal Pupping Season
- 3Tūī Dawn Chorus
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
We knew the weather would shift late in the afternoon and the wind would increase but we were optimistic we could get to camp in plenty of time so we explored the islands and watched the seals from a respectful distance.
We also saw a few more fur seals basking in the sun and some guys fishing in the water.
While crossing the bridge we spotted a large school of small fish on either side being chased by an extremely persistent cormorant.
I saw so many seals, laying out on the rocks or bobbing along in the water near the shore.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Abel Tasman National Park?
The most likely sightings are Dominican Gull (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), VOC (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers), Tūī (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers), New Zealand Fantail (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers), Weka (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers) — among 266 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Abel Tasman National Park for wildlife?
February has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see VOC in Abel Tasman National Park?
Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a VOC sighting in Abel Tasman National Park, based on 757 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Long-nosed Fur Seal in Abel Tasman National Park?
Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Long-nosed Fur Seal sighting in Abel Tasman National Park, based on 74 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see White-headed Stilt in Abel Tasman National Park?
Yes — about 20% of wildlife watchers report a White-headed Stilt sighting in Abel Tasman National Park, based on 152 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
GoodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
GoodHow likely to see animals?
Experience
GoodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
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