Abel Tasman National Park is New Zealand’s smallest national park but arguably its most perfectly formed — a 22,530-hectare coastal paradise where golden sand beaches curve between headlands of native bush, crystal-clear water laps at granite boulders, and the forest canopy buzzes with birdsong. The Abel Tasman Coast Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, follows 60 kilometers of this glorious coastline, crossing swing bridges over tidal inlets, winding through groves of silver fern and kahikatea, and depositing hikers onto one impossibly beautiful beach after another. The water here has a luminous turquoise quality that seems almost tropical, yet the surrounding bush is unmistakably New Zealand.

What makes Abel Tasman uniquely accessible is the network of water taxis that connect beaches along the coast, allowing visitors to walk any section of the track and get picked up by boat at the other end. This flexibility means you can hike for a few hours to a secluded beach, swim in water so clear you can see the sandy bottom from meters away, and then catch a ride back to base — or spend multiple days walking the entire track with overnight stays in Department of Conservation huts or campsites. Sea kayaking is equally popular, with guided trips paddling through the Tonga Island Marine Reserve where fur seals bask on rocky outcrops and little blue penguins bob in the shallows.

Pro tip: Even if you don’t have time for the full multi-day walk, take the water taxi to Bark Bay and walk the section south to Torrent Bay — this three-hour stretch passes through some of the park’s finest scenery including a tidal crossing and secluded coves perfect for swimming. Book a kayak and hiking combo trip for the ultimate Abel Tasman experience, and keep your eyes peeled for fur seals, stingrays, and dolphins along the coast.