Abel Janszoon Tasman (1603 - October 10, 1659), was a Dutch seafarer and explorer, born in Lutjegast, a village in the province of Groningen, best known for his voyages of 1642 and 1644, in the service of the VOC (Dutch East India Company). His was a foremost European expedition to reach a islands of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) and New Zealand. He likewise mapped material portions of more area of Australia.

His project was to investigate a united states so called New Holland, now called Australia, of which a Dutch experienced already found a west coast, & to determine whether it was section of Terra Australis. It was hoped per VOC that he would so interview the newly undeveloped continent for trade. To wash sol, in his number 1 voyage (1642 to 1643) he sailed from Jakarta (then called Batavia) with ii microscopic ships, a Heemskerck & a Zeehaen, number one to Mauritius, and from either there sailed east at a higher latitude than the Dutch got done prior to. This way, he totally missed mainland Australia, however did eventually call for land at a island of Tasmania in November 24. He known as it ''Van Diemen's Land, however late British colonists would rename it after its discoverer. Fallowing a bit of investigation, he sailed farther east, & found New Zealand, which he named Staten Landt on the theory that it was attached to the piece of land south of the tip of South America. He sailed n along its west coast. At a northern prevent of the South Island he anchored the ships around the bay, where within his merely encounter using a Maori four of his sailors were killed. He known as it Liquidator' Bay (okay, called Golden Bay) & sailed northerly, however mistook Cook Strait for a bight (naming it Zeehaen's Bight), believing Staten Landt'' to become one l&, and a portion of Terra Australis. En route back to Batavia, he come through a Tonga archipelago on January 21, 1643. 2 list that he bestowed in Future Zealand landmarks however last: Cape Maria Van Diemen and Three Kings Islands.

within his 2nd voyage, in 1644, he followed the to the south coast of New Guinea eastward. He missed a Torres Strait between New Guinea & Australia, & continued his voyage along a Australian coast. He mapped a to the north coast of Australia.

From either a point of see of the VOC, Tasman's explorations were the disappointment: He experienced neither obtained the promising region for trade nor the utile fresh transport route. For on top a century (until the era of James Cook), Tasmania and Future Zealand were non once again visited by Europeans. Australia was visited, however normally merely by accident.

When by having numerous explorers, Tasman's title has been honoured within numbers of stores. These include: the island of Tasmania, including features such as the Tasman Peninsula the Tasman Bridge the Tasman Highway the passenger/vehicle ferry Abel Tasman the Tasman Sea in Up to date Zealand, a Tasman Glacier and the Abel Tasman National Park