Abel Tasman National Park

🇳🇿 New Zealand

🦭 Fur Seals Basking on Golden Sand
🌍 #293 Global · 2.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #24 in Oceania #66 in Temperate Forest
New Zealand, New Zealand 266 spp. recorded

Abel Tasman National Park sits at the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, protecting a coastal temperate forest of beech and regenerating scrub bordered by golden sand beaches and granite cliffs. Unlike the alpine terrain found in other southern reserves, this protected strip features sheltered tidal estuaries and calm coastal waters that merge directly with dense coastal greenery.

-40.909° S   172.974° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

VOC ★
LC Endemic

VOC

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haematopus unicolor

60–70% · Likely
Long-nosed Fur Seal ★
LC

Long-nosed Fur Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Arctocephalus forsteri

40–50% · Likely
White-headed Stilt ★

White-headed Stilt

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Himantopus leucocephalus

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Dominican Gull
LC

Dominican Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus dominicanus

70–80% · Very likely
Tūī
LC Endemic

Tūī

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae

60–70% · Likely
New Zealand Fantail
LC Endemic

New Zealand Fantail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rhipidura fuliginosa

60–70% · Likely
Weka
VU Endemic

Weka

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gallirallus australis

60–70% · Likely
Silvereye
LC Endemic

Silvereye

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zosterops lateralis

60–70% · Likely
Welcome Swallow
LC

Welcome Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo neoxena

60–70% · Likely
Silver Gull
Endemic

Silver Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae

50–60% · Likely
South-west Pacific Swamphen

South-west Pacific Swamphen

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Porphyrio melanotus

50–60% · Likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC Endemic

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

50–60% · Likely
New Zealand Bellbird
LC Endemic

New Zealand Bellbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthornis melanura

50–60% · Likely
Chaffinch
LC

Chaffinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fringilla coelebs

50–60% · Likely
White-faced Heron
LC

White-faced Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta novaehollandiae

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Long-nosed Fur Seal ★
LC

Long-nosed Fur Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Arctocephalus forsteri

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Brushtail
LC Endemic

Common Brushtail

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Trichosurus vulpecula

10–20% · With luck
Bottlenose Dolphin
LC

Bottlenose Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tursiops truncatus

10–20% · With luck
Common Hedgehog
NT Endemic

Common Hedgehog

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Erinaceus europaeus

Insufficient data
Brown Hare
LC

Brown Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus europaeus

Insufficient data
Stoat
LC Endemic

Stoat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mustela erminea

Insufficient data
Leopard Seal
LC

Leopard Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hydrurga leptonyx

Insufficient data
Humpback Whale
LC

Humpback Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Megaptera novaeangliae

Insufficient data
Long-finned Pilot Whale
LC

Long-finned Pilot Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Globicephala melas

Insufficient data
Southern Elephant Seal
LC

Southern Elephant Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mirounga leonina

Insufficient data
Hector's Dolphin
EN Endemic

Hector's Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cephalorhynchus hectori

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

VOC ★
LC Endemic

VOC

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haematopus unicolor

60–70% · Likely
White-headed Stilt ★

White-headed Stilt

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Himantopus leucocephalus

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Dominican Gull
LC

Dominican Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus dominicanus

70–80% · Very likely
Tūī
LC Endemic

Tūī

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae

60–70% · Likely
New Zealand Fantail
LC Endemic

New Zealand Fantail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rhipidura fuliginosa

60–70% · Likely
Weka
VU Endemic

Weka

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gallirallus australis

60–70% · Likely
Silvereye
LC Endemic

Silvereye

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zosterops lateralis

60–70% · Likely
Welcome Swallow
LC

Welcome Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo neoxena

60–70% · Likely
Silver Gull
Endemic

Silver Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae

50–60% · Likely
South-west Pacific Swamphen

South-west Pacific Swamphen

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Porphyrio melanotus

50–60% · Likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC Endemic

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

50–60% · Likely
New Zealand Bellbird
LC Endemic

New Zealand Bellbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthornis melanura

50–60% · Likely
Chaffinch
LC

Chaffinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fringilla coelebs

50–60% · Likely
White-faced Heron
LC

White-faced Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta novaehollandiae

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common New Zealand Skink
LC Endemic

Common New Zealand Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Oligosoma polychroma

Insufficient data
Common gecko
LC Endemic

Common gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Woodworthia maculata

Insufficient data
Leatherback Sea Turtle
VU

Leatherback Sea Turtle

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Dermochelys coriacea

Insufficient data
Brown Skink
LC Endemic

Brown Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Oligosoma zelandicum

Insufficient data
Starry Tree Gecko
VU Endemic

Starry Tree Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Naultinus stellatus

Insufficient data
Pond Slider

Pond Slider

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachemys scripta

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Southern Bell Frog

Southern Bell Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ranoidea raniformis

10–20% · With luck

Animal Events

🦌

Seal Pupping Season

MarJun

Long-nosed fur seals give birth and nurse pups on rocky outcrops, especially around Separation Point.

Long-nosed Fur Seal
LC

Long-nosed Fur Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Arctocephalus forsteri

40–50% · Likely
🐦

Tūī Dawn Chorus

OctNov

The melodic calls of the Tūī fill the forest canopy at dawn during spring breeding season.

Tūī
LC Endemic

Tūī

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae

60–70% · Likely
🐦

Seabird Migration Peaks

JanFeb

Large flocks of migratory seabirds, including terns and gulls, pass through the park’s coastal waters.

Caspian Tern
LC

Caspian Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hydroprogne caspia

20–30% · Possible
Silver Gull
Endemic

Silver Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae

50–60% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
VOC
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
60–70
40–50
80–90
50–60
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
Long-nosed Fur Seal
30–40
30–40
50–60
40–50
30–40
50–60
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
White-headed Stilt
20–30
10–20
10–20
20–30
20–30
30–40
10–20
10–20
5–10
30–40
10–20
20–30
Dominican Gull
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
80–90
80–90
90–100
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
Tūī
60–70
40–50
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
New Zealand Fantail
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
Weka
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
40–50
70–80
70–80
40–50
50–60
70–80
60–70
Silvereye
50–60
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
50–60
40–50
60–70
40–50
50–60
60–70
Welcome Swallow
70–80
60–70
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
70–80
60–70
Silver Gull
60–70
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
50–60
30–40
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
South-west Pacific Swamphen
40–50
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
60–70
70–80
50–60
40–50
Eurasian Blackbird
50–60
30–40
30–40
50–60
50–60
80–90
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
50–60
New Zealand Bellbird
40–50
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
50–60
40–50
30–40
60–70
50–60
Chaffinch
50–60
40–50
20–30
50–60
30–40
60–70
40–50
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
White-faced Heron
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
30–40
50–60
40–50
40–50
Animal Events
🐦 Seabird Migration Peaks
🦌 Seal Pupping Season
🐦 Tūī Dawn Chorus

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Moderate
🦭 Fur Seals Basking on Golden Sand

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
2.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
199
🐒 Mammals
55
🦎 Reptiles
10
🐸 Amphibians
2
266 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
44 Threatened 63 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
2.4 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
60%
📊
Coverage (64 species at ≥5% of 266 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
24%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (12 bird)
46% Global avg
0%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
51
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
1
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
18

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Abel Tasman National Park?

The most likely sightings are Dominican Gull (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), VOC (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Tūī (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), New Zealand Fantail (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Weka (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 266 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Abel Tasman National Park for wildlife?

February has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see VOC in Abel Tasman National Park?

Yes — about 64% of wildlife watchers report a VOC sighting in Abel Tasman National Park, based on 311 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Long-nosed Fur Seal in Abel Tasman National Park?

Yes — about 41% of wildlife watchers report a Long-nosed Fur Seal sighting in Abel Tasman National Park, based on 62 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see White-headed Stilt in Abel Tasman National Park?

Yes — about 22% of wildlife watchers report a White-headed Stilt sighting in Abel Tasman National Park, based on 105 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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