"A natural Lesson about the Tides (Abel Tasman NP)" Top 5 Page for this destination Nelson/Tasman Favorite Tip by Kakapo2

Favorite thing: The Abel Tasman National Park is one of the most fascinating places to watch the changing tides. Of course, this is partly due to those incredible colours of the sand that also change their shades and patterns.

Sure, you have changing tides in all other parts of the world. But watching the tide retreat here is like watching a painting develop in the sand. Not to speak of the incredibly dark orange colour the beaches take in the setting sun, with the sculptured compact wet sand setting abstract fantasy patterns.

On the first two photos you have a view of Marahau, taken from the same spot, with not even two hours between the photos. On the first one you see the area near high-tide, like an island in the sea, on the second one it looks more like an oasis in the desert.

Photo 3: Red shades in the afternoon.

Photo 4: Painted pattern on the beach.

Photo 5: Water lines on a beach before the sea wipes out the painting in the sand.