Abel Tasman National Park (Tonga Island) – Marlborough Sounds & Nelson/Tasman

Site Overview

Abel Tasman National Park, specifically the Tonga Island Marine Reserve, offers spectacular diving and snorkelling with New Zealand fur seals, clear water, dense kelp forests, and abundant reef fish in one of the country's most scenic coastal environments. The marine reserve protects the rocky reef and kelp forest ecosystems around Tonga Island, creating a sanctuary where marine life thrives alongside the famous golden sand beaches and granite headlands of the national park. New Zealand fur seals are the highlight of the diving experience, regularly encountered basking on the rocky shores and playing in the water with characteristic curiosity that creates unforgettable underwater interactions. The dense ecklonia kelp forest creates a beautiful underwater landscape with shafts of sunlight filtering through the canopy to illuminate the rocky reef below. Blue cod and snapper patrol the kelp forest, while crayfish shelter in the rocky crevices and beneath ledges throughout the reef system. The clear water and abundant marine life make the Tonga Island Marine Reserve ideal for combined dive and snorkel trips, where divers can explore the deeper reef while snorkellers observe the same marine life from the surface. The stunning coastal scenery above water, with golden beaches and granite headlands, creates a complete nature experience that combines world-class diving with one of New Zealand's most beloved national parks.