Hiking in Hiker Paradise

Unspoiled beaches. Solitary coves. Emerald seas. Lush forests of fern trees and vines.

No, you haven't clicked on a hyperlink to an advertisement for some Caribbean resort. Welcome to New Zealand's Abel Tasman National Park, which boasts the Abel Tasman Coastal Track, a great walk that will challenge your idea of what it means to go on a backpacking trip. This is New Zealand's most popular track, so gentle that it can be done by anyone, even small children. Well-graded trails lead you from one beach to the next. For accommodations, you can take your choice of four huts (reservations required), or use some of the many tenting areas.