Best single-day hiking trails in Nelson Tasman

If you’re after an easy wander that still feels like a proper escape, the Maitai Caves walk is a bit of a local gem.

A 3.5 hour walk (one way) across rolling pastures and through coastal forest delights walkers with spectacular views of the Boulder Bank, Nelson City, Cable Bay, the Horoirangi Marine Reserve and the Western Ranges.

A steep but rewarding climb in Mount Richmond Forest Park, the Mount Duppa Summit Track winds through lush beech forest, past striking rock formations, before opening onto a rugged ridgeline with sweeping views across the Bryant and Richmond ranges, Cable Bay and the Marlborough Sounds on a clear day.

The Ben Nevis Track climbs through forest, tussock, and rocky crags to a 1619 m summit with sweeping views over Tasman Bay and Red Hill. It’s a challenging alpine tramp with no water sources, so come prepared and expect rapidly changing conditions.

Perched at 1,650 metres, Angelus Hut overlooks Lake Angelus and is surrounded by stunning mountain vistas. From May to October, the lake often freezes, and snow covers all four routes, sometimes requiring visitors to dig their way to the hut.

The Pitt Head Loop Track is a scenic 3.2 km hiking trail located in the Southern part of the Abel Tasman National Park.

You’ll never experience a beach quite like Farewell Spit in Golden Bay. Mighty, majestic, and magnificent are just three words regularly used to describe the 35km sandspit that shelters the Nelson Tasman region from the wild west coast weather.

The Mount Robert Circuit undoubtedly offers some of the best views of Nelson Lakes National Park.