The Abel Tasman Coastal Track stretches for 60 km from Marahau to Wainui Bay on the South Island of New Zealand.   We hiked much of the trail, exploring the forests, headlands, and beaches.   Although we took some photos along the way, we could have spent the whole month just in this area.   A few photos are shared here.

We found New Zealand flax (phormium tenax) in flower at the start of the trail, but also in  Golden Bay at the far end.   It is an evergreen rennial plant that is a favorite ornamental, but it is also harvested for fibre.

New Zealand flax

Some of our time hiking was along the shoreline, some was over the hills, and we had lots of time on the beaches too.

Hound’s tongue fern was abundant along the route.   ”

Microsorum pustulatum subsp. pustulatum is has a fleshy creeping to climbing stem (rhizome) covered in large, blackish-brown scales. Adult fronds are a bright glossy green, very leathery and variably divided. Formerly known as Phymatosorus diversifolius….Found throughout New Zealand on soil, rocks or as an epiphyte in lowland to montane forest, and in drier scrub and open areas ” (University of Aukland)

hound’s tongue fern

Rawirinui (kunzea robusta) is an evergeen in the myrtle family.  It has rough bark, lanceolate leaves, but also has large clusters of white flowers in spring.  It can be found on both islands in lowland areas.

Rawirinui (Kunzea robusta)

The beaches were mostly empty (of people) but we saw many seals and birds like this red-billed gull.

red-billed gull

Growing at the edge of beaches were large mats of sea figs (Carpobrotus chilensis), a prostate succulent with yellow flowers.   It is edible and has medicinal uses too.

sea fig

We came across a couple of wekas (Gallirallus australis) on the trail.  They are large flightless bird in the rail family, endemic in New Zealand.

weka

The forests were rich with ferns, mosses, lichens, and some larger clubmosses.

We only spotted a few sun orchids in the forest.   There are 15 types of sun orchids in New Zealand, 11 of which are endemic.   They are mostly found in wetter areas on the South Island.

Although I took a few photos of the manuka tree (tea tree) (leptospermum scoparium), I was not happy with any of them so I have only included this one grainy image of a blossom.   The tree is prized for its ornamental value, but bees that pollinate the tree also make a prized honey.

manuka

We came across clutches of crested quails along the trail.   New Zealand quails are extenct, but there are large numbers of naturalized California quails in New Zealand.

crested quails

Along one section of the trail we found open areas full of white or purple foxgloves in bloom.   they are considered to be an invasive species in New Zealand.

We spotted a number of seals sunning themselves on beaches or on rock shelves.   We also visited a seal colony, exploring it in kayaks.

The whole coastline of Abel Tasman National Park deserved much more of our time.   As it turned out we explored the area for about 4 days, then moved on to another part of the Island and found it equally wonderful.