Kaiteriteri: Beach delights near Abel Tasman National Park

Think golden sand, sunshine, clear waters and stunning scenery. What more could one want?

Being Easter, this was my last chance of a decent swim in warm-ish waters before Autumn properly kicks in and Kaiteriteri didn’t disappoint.

Just a wee bit out of Motueka at the top of the South Island of New Zealand lies Nelson and Abel Tasman National Park. A few days before I’d kayaked and hiked through Abel Tasman National Park and was gobsmacked by the beauty the region holds, so when a friend recommended I visit Kaiteriteri – a beach nearby I knew it would be a great day out.

Beach bag ready, I drove from Nelson and decided to stop in Motueka for a yummy falafel salad for the beach. Patisserie Royal Bakery & Cafe was a great stop. I’d stopped there a few days earlier because it was just about the only place open for coffee on a public holiday, but came back the second time because it had a great variety – even for Paleo-ish people like me, plus the coffee was fantastic!

Onwards I turned off just before Abel Tasman National Park and headed towards the costal township of Kaiteriteri. After checking out the main beach and indulging in a Kapiti Coast Ice-cream treat I spent most of the day at Little Kaiteriteri.

Little Kaiteriteri was a quieter end of the beach with little rock pools and islands to admire. The first dip in the ocean was pretty chilly, but as the day wore on the sun helped and the water ended up being quite pleasant. Being quiet, but with still a few people and families around meant it felt super safe (heck it is New Zealand after all) and comfortable to spend the day at the beach alone.

Between Abel Tasman National Park, Nelson Lakes and Kaiteriteri I felt spoilt for nature choices during my visit to the Nelson region. It’s said to be one of the sunniest spot in New Zealand and it really shone during my visit!