Page 106 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #12

OURWILD WORLD

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NATIONAL PARKS OF THE WORLD Area: 225km2 Length of coastal track: 60km Created: 1942

Abel Tasman New Zealand

Whattosee
New Zealand’s smallest
1 WEKA 2 NEWZEALAND 3 OTHER SPECIES
national park is also among
FUR SEAL
its most popular, as much for Whentogo
its golden sandy beaches as Summer (November
A loud 'coo-eet' call at Colonies of this lithe Find a quiet beach to February) is the
for its natural wonders. With
dawn or dusk might marine mammal as night falls and warmest but busiest
black beech forests ringing be the first indication breed on islands in you may see little season, when huts
with birdsong and waters that a weka is nearing the park, notably (or blue) penguins and campsites on the
your campsite – Tonga Island – now (korora).You’ll Abel Tasman Coastal
splashed by seals, dolphins where this inquisitive, a protected marine almost certainly Track get booked
and penguins, it’s also a flightless bird may reserve, where spot South Island out well in advance.
Spring and autumn
delight for wildlife lovers.A decide to check out landing is by permit pied and variable are quieter but still
your picnic. Once only – paddle your oystercatchers truly delightful.
major ecological restoration common in the park, kayak around the probing the wet sand.

programme, called Project weka disappeared island to see seals In the forests, listen GO THERE WITH
decades ago but were swimming or hauling for the otherworldly •MoaTrek
Janszoon, aims to return the
reintroduced in 2006. out on rocky shore. whistles of tui. •Wildlife Worldwide
park to its pre-colonial state. •Discover the World Illustration by Bex Glover

Spotability LIKELY LIKELY LIKELY

106 BBC Wildlife December 2018