Visitors to the Abel Tasman National Park will now have a virtual visitor centre in their pocket, thanks to the launch of 12 wi-fi hotspots throughout the area.

The Department of Conservation's established the network, in effort to utilize the technology visitors are carrying round with them already.

Project director Devon McLean says the wi-fi hotspots provide users with up-to date information on their location, weather and tides, as well as details on the parks plants and wild life.