35-624: Awaroa Inlet is a remote, alluring body of water within the Abel Tasman National Park , at the northern end of Tasman Bay , in the Tasman Region of the South Island , New Zealand. In 2016, Awaroa Beach became known as the "People's Beach" after New Zealanders bought it through a crowdfunding campaign. Awaroa is a Māori language term ( awa meaning river or valley, and roa meaning long). In other words, it
70-542: A pā was established at Auckland Point by Pohea , who travelled there around 1450 from the Whanganui area. From the mid-1500s Muaūpoko (formerly known as Ngāi Tara ) occupied the area until the early 1600s, when they were ousted by Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri . Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri were present when Abel Tasman reached Golden Bay / Mohua in 1642. The park was founded in 1942, largely through the efforts of ornithologist and author Pérrine Moncrieff to have land reserved for
105-584: A free virtual visitor centre for downloading to smartphones or tablets. The application provides information about the Park's history, its flora and fauna, points of interest, weather, walking tracks, and tides. This virtual visitor centre is free of charge and can be found through the App Store or Google Play Store. [REDACTED] Abel Tasman National Park travel guide from Wikivoyage Awapoto River The Awapoto River , also known as Little River as
140-532: A large area of it has undergone extensive environmental modification in its history. Early European settlers burned or cleared much of the forest, only to find that the soil was unsuitable for farming. This practise not only destroyed much of the shrubland and forests, but also introduced invasive plants found throughout the modern-day park. However, as time progresses, the original ecosystems and forests are slowly returning. The park contains varied habitats, including coastal forests, sub-alpine bogs, and sand dunes. As
175-568: A literal translation from Māori , is a river in the Tasman District of New Zealand. It rises east of Evans Ridge. There are no named peaks near the source, but the Abel Tasman Inland Track follows Evans Ridge near the river's source. The Awapoto River initially flows north-east and then east through the Abel Tasman National Park . It flows through Hadfield Clearing and then passes under Awaroa Road before entering
210-568: A popular tramping track that follows the coastline and is one of the Department of Conservation's Great Walks ; the Abel Tasman Inland Track is less frequented. Other walks in the park, such as the Wainui Falls Track are considered 'short walks'. Kayaking , camping and sightseeing are other activities. Access to the park is usually via the small settlement of Mārahau or Kaiteriteri (by water taxi). The nearest large town
245-402: A result of this diversity, many different species can be found. The islands of the park, in particular Tonga Island , Motuareronui / Adele Island and Fisherman Island which are the largest, have been disturbed less and have no introduced mammalian predators. As a result the islands have species not found elsewhere in the park and there are more restrictions to visitor access. Though much of
280-521: A result of this, the park is one of the most modified landscapes of any of New Zealand's national parks, with management of the park largely focusing on regeneration and restoration of the traditional ecosystem. The park was first established in 1942 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Abel Tasman 's 1642 visit in New Zealand, when he became the first European to sight the islands. It has since been progressively expanded from its original borders,
315-418: A school, but the roll declined, and didn't reopen after the 1931 Christmas break. The school site and surrounding farmland was formally taken into the park in the 1950s. A park ranger stumbled across the overgrown school in 1961. “Crossing the threshold was just like taking a backwards step through time of some 30 or 40 years,” the ranger said. Lessons were still chalked on the blackboard, paintings done by
350-639: Is Motueka , 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the south. Dogs (excepting guide dogs ) are not allowed in the park. The Department of Conservation administers the National Park. The Scenic Reserve is administered by the Tasman District Council Chief Executive and Department of Conservation’s Nelson / Marlborough Conservator. Activities in adjoining coastal waters are Tasman District Council's responsibility. These areas operate under separate regulations. Management of
385-610: Is a long river. It is one of many places named Awaroa in New Zealand, for example, Awaroa /Godley Head in Lyttelton Harbour and Awaroa River in the Northland Region . Access is not easy. Some people arrive on foot along the Abel Tasman Track . Other people come to Awaroa Beach by boat, kayak and water taxi, or to the north west upper reaches via a winding road, or on small planes or helicopter to
SECTION 10
#1732800852003420-409: Is fireplace and some twisted iron. Short side tracks to both the schoolhouse site and a steam traction engine used for skidding out logs are both signposted off the main track through the upper inlet. A rough carpark at the dead end of a tortuously winding narrow road at the lonely western corner of Awaroa Inlet. Abel Tasman National Park Abel Tasman National Park is a national park at
455-404: Is named for the scow Venture, once used to ferry goods around the coasts, now a wrecked and barely visible on the tidal flats. The Hadfield family settled and farmed near the mouth of the inlet from 1863, drawn there by the fresh water, good shelter and flat land, easy to clear and ready to fatten sheep and milking cows. Awapoto River flows through the clearing. In the decades that followed,
490-516: The Awaroa Inlet . What became known as Hadfield Clearing is part of the 1,000 acres (400 ha) of land purchased by Frederick Hadfield in 1863; the river flows through this land. Together with William Lightband, he had also leased 2,000 acres (810 ha) north of Abel Head, on the south side of Awaroa Inlet, from the previous year. Two of Frederick Hadfield's sons would take up farming in this area: William Hadfield (1844–1920) farmed along
525-412: The 1960s, holiday houses were built on an old farm, and an airstrip put in. This pass on the northern side of the bay is 224 metres (735 ft) above sea level. This river flows into the inlet. One of its tributories, Venture Creek , once had a small beech bark processing settlement. It was abandoned as the value of the bark declined and the cost of transport increased into the remote area. The creek
560-528: The Awapoto River; and Harry Hadfield (1847–1913) farmed along the Awaroa River that flows into the southern reaches of Awaroa Inlet. William Hadfield had a modest homestead on his land and raised a family of two girls and seven boys. One of his sons was Darcy Hadfield , the winner of New Zealand's first Olympic medal in rowing (in the single sculls in 1920) . Hadfield Clearing was farmed by
595-629: The Cunliffe, Winter and other families joined the Hadfield's and began to farm the area. In November 2006, the Hadfield family offered the clearing to the Department of Conservation, thus this significant tract of private land became incorporated into the park. Today, as part of Project Janszoon , the clearing is a regenerating wetland. Distinct patches of fern, sphagnum moss and other swamp plants can be seen, along with fernbirds and pāteke . By 1890, there were enough settler's children to start
630-505: The adjacent coast. Between Mean High Water and Mean Low Water Springs, the beaches are gazetted as a Scenic Reserve, covering 7.74 km (2.99 sq mi) in total. The Tonga Island Marine Reserve adjoins part of the park. The Abel Tasman Monument , though not located in the park, commemorates the first contact between Europeans and Māori and is located near the northern end of the park. Abel Tasman National Park stands out from most other National parks of New Zealand , given that
665-596: The airstrip near Awaroa Lodge. Although located within the Abel Tasman National Park, a part of Awaroa Beach remained in private ownership up until 2016. Michael Spackman had purchased 7 hectares (17 acres) from Joff Colin and Joan Benge around 10 years prior, who had purchased it from the Harwood family in the 1960s who owned it from around 1938. When Spackman put it up for tender there were no guarantees that next owner would allow public access to
700-417: The bay. Care must be taken to avoid off-lying rocks but there is good holding and shelter from easterly and southerly winds. The shoreline stretches 800 metres (2,600 ft), in a gentle arc of golden sand. The lodge is one of the few private accommodation options within the park. It began life as a café and backpackers in the early 1990s. This is one of the track huts and campsites. There are 34 bunks in
735-439: The children hung on the walls, workbooks, pencils and slates lay on the desks and there was a thick coating of dust over everything. “It all looked exactly as if they had all walked out at the end of lessons one day years ago and had never come back.” Dawber, Carol (1999). Awaroa Legacy . Picton, NZ: River Press. p. 332. ISBN 0-9598041-6-1 . Vandals burnt down the little schoolhouse in 1969, and all that remains
SECTION 20
#1732800852003770-531: The family until 2004, when Bill Hadfield died. In November 2006, the descendants sold the land—by now 790 hectares (2,000 acres)—to the Department of Conservation ; it was the last significant block of land to be incorporated into Abel Tasman National Park. Since 2017, the Department of Conservation and Project Janszoon have released just under 300 brown teal in the Awapoto River. The birds are successfully breeding in that location. Fiordland's Arthur Valley
805-401: The hut and space for 100 campers. Bookings are made through the Department of Conservation. The inlet is a tidal estuary. It can be crossed on foot two hours either side of low tide. Its entrance is notable for its long sandspit, shifting channels and a maze of golden sand banks that cover and uncover with the tides. Local knowledge is needed to enter and leave the inlet at high water. In
840-435: The most recent of which involved the addition of 7 hectares (17 acres) in Awaroa Inlet after a successful crowdfunding campaign . The coastal area was inhabited for hundreds of years by Māori prior to the arrival of Europeans, with sites throughout the area occupied both seasonally and permanently. In addition to harvesting food from the local forests, estuaries and waters, locals grew kūmara . Historical records indicate
875-474: The national park is divided into three types of "places", where visitor access and use differs between type: In 2012 Project Janszoon, a privately funded trust, was set up to restore the park's ecosystems. The trust takes its name from Tasman's middle name Janszoon . It is aiming to complete the restoration in time for the 400th anniversary of Tasman's visit and the park's 100th anniversary in 2042. The Department of Conservation and Project Janszoon developed
910-704: The national park. The Golden Bay Cement Company donated the land where the Abel Tasman Monument and a memorial plaque was sited. The area's primary historic interest was the visit of Tasman in 1642, D'Urville in 1827, and the New Zealand Company barques Whitby and Will Watch , and brig Arrow in 1841. The site was also of significant botanical interest. By 1946 the park had reached 15,534 hectares (38,386 acres) in area with additional land purchases. A further 844 hectares (2,085 acres) at Tōtaranui , formerly owned by William Gibbs ,
945-457: The national psyche towards nature conservation and a willingness of New Zealanders with disposable income to protect land for public use. It was not without controversy though. When philanthropist economist Gareth Morgan , who owned a holiday house nearby, offered to top up the fund with NZ$ 1 million if his family had use of part of the beach, the backlash was swift. Pledgers threatened to withdraw their pledges and Morgan backed out. The beach
980-500: The north end of New Zealand's South Island . It covers 237.1 km (91.5 sq mi) of land between Golden Bay / Mohua and Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere , making it the smallest of New Zealand's national parks . Despite this, the park is one of the most visited, partially due to the popularity of the Abel Tasman Coast Track which spans 60 km (37 mi) along the eastern and northern coastal areas of
1015-724: The park is the smallest of New Zealand's national parks. It consists of forested, hilly country to the north of the valleys of the Tākaka and Riwaka Rivers , and is bounded to the north by the waters of Golden Bay / Mohua and Tasman Bay . The park contains some of the islands off the coast including the Tata Islands in Golden Bay / Mohua, and Tonga Island , Motuareronui / Adele Island , and Fisherman Island in Tasman Bay. The park does not extend beyond Mean High Water Mark on
1050-412: The park. The area of the park has seen human interaction for approximately 700 years, with evidence of habitation dating back to early Māori iwi such as Waitaha and Rapuwai during the early periods of Māori habitation in New Zealand. Following the arrival of Pākehā in the 19th century, the area saw widespread deforestation, farming, and quarrying, significantly modifying the area's environment. As
1085-400: The parkland is pasture or covered with shrubs, valley areas contain forests of rātā , mataī , miro and hinau . Over 70 species of birds have been recorded in the park. Some of the birds that can frequently be seen are petrels , shags , penguins , gulls , terns , and herons . Possums , wild pigs , deer , and goats can also be seen in the park. The Abel Tasman Coast Track is
Awaroa Inlet - Misplaced Pages Continue
1120-412: The pristine beach. Interested buyers proposed to build upmarket homes on it. This spurred a crowdfunding campaign to put it back into the public's hands. Christchurch resident Duane Major, and his brother-in-law, Adam Gardner, created an online Givealittle page. More than 33,500 kind-hearted people pledged $ 5 here, $ 10 here, $ 20 there, to raise NZ$ 2 million. The campaign heralded an historic shift in
1155-710: The purpose. Moncrieff served on the park board from 1943 to 1974. The park was opened on 18 December 1942 to mark the 300th anniversary of Abel Tasman's visit. Those in attendance at the opening ceremony at Tarakohe included Charles van der Plas , as personal representative of the Netherlands' Queen, Wilhelmina . The Queen was made Patron of the park. The idea for the park had been under consideration since June 1938. The Crown set aside 15,225 hectares (37,622 acres), comprising 8,900 hectares (21,900 acres) of proposed state forest, 5,809 hectares (14,354 acres) of Crown land and 554 hectares (1,368 acres) of other reserve land for
1190-473: Was acquired from J S Campbell in 1949 and added to the park. About 6,100 hectares (15,000 acres) have been added since. In 2008 an extra 7.9 km (790 ha; 3.1 sq mi), including the formerly private land known as Hadfields Clearing, were added to the park. In 2016, a further 7 hectares (17 acres) in Awaroa Inlet was purchased by New Zealanders in a crowdfunding campaign . Covering an area of 237 km (92 sq mi; 59,000 acres),
1225-610: Was adopted into the national park and is now managed by the Department of Conservation (New Zealand) . Awaroa Head, at the southern entrance to the Awaroa Bay, is one of the park's impressive granite headlands. It also marks the northern end of the Tonga Island Marine Reserve . The marine reserve was established in November 1993 to protect marine ecology. Small boats can anchor in the eastern corner of
#2997