Golden Bay - South Island, New Zealand

Golden Bay on the northwestern tip of South Island, is encircled by the arm of the Farewell Spit and is also the northern point of entry to the Abel Tasman National Park.

It is located against the imposing background of the magnificent Kahurangi National Park. Golden Bay has mountains towering over it on its three sides and languid golden beaches on its fourth side.

The clear sparkling water of its coastline creates excellent conditions for windsurfing, fishing and boating. The backcountry is the home of the Te Waikoropupu Springs, the largest freshwater springs in New Zealand.

There are about sixteen clear freshwater springs and a viewing platform enabling a view of the water bubbling up out of the ground. You can also visit the Golden Bay Museum and the Golden Bay Gallery to get a better idea of the history of the region and its artistic trends.

Takaka is the largest town in Golden Bay and is located right in the crook of the bay. Wainui Bay, east of Takaka, has historical significance in being the first place where Abel Tasman anchored becoming the first Pakeha (European) to set foot on Aotearoa (New Zealand) and encounter the Maori people.

Because of its geographical isolation and lack of easy road access, Golden Bay is home to numerous alternative lifestyle exponents, artists and craftsmen and has a very different feel to neighbouring Tasman Bay. Golden Bay can wrap you up once you discover its charm and it can definitely chew a few more days off your itinerary than you originally anticipated.

Golden Bay Accommodation

Takaka is the best base for accommodation and activities in the Golden Bay region. Some of the popular destinations are the Takaka Hill, Ngarua Caves, Harwoods Hole which is a huge vertical shaft about 150 metres deep and 50 metres in diameter, Rameka Track and Takaka Hill Walkway. Golden Bay is famous for a dozen incredible mountainbike rides as well.

Golden Bay Activities

You can also visit the studios of artists and craftsmen in the Golden Bay. There is a Visitor Information Centre where you can book tickets to the national park and walking tracks and DOC huts. You can hire mountain bikes on a per day basis.

There are many interesting and excellent places to eat such as Bites Cafe Bar, and definitely worth a bit of a drive are The Mussel Inn (live music and home-brewed beer) and The Naked Possum (eco-restaurant and nursery) restaurants.

East of Takaka, Abel Tasman Drive is a tourist highlight for interesting activity. The Drive splits into three, each route ending at the Abel Tasman Coastal Track. Labyrinth Rocks Park is a maze of naturally sculpted limestone formations. Rawhiti Cave is another highlight with its myriad formation of stalactites.

Just a few steps from the mouth of the cave, there are fascinating formations of transparent stone straws filled with water and rock pools with perfect round stone marbles. Walking on the cave floor is extremely risky. This is solved by the 3 hour Kahurangi Guided Walk tours. Some of the other interesting spots are the Grove Scenic Reserve, the Abel Tasman Memorial, Tata Beach, Wainui Falls and the wonderful Totaranui Beach.

Collingwood is the northern most part of Golden Bay. Most of the best artists and craftspeople live in the region between Takaka and Collingwood. Collingwood serves as a good starting place for the tours to Farewell Spit and the Heaphy Track.

Other points of interest in this direction are Wharariki Beach (a short hike from the carpark), and Farewell Spit itself where you can get driven along the Spit, take a walk to the lighthouse, or just admire the birdlife from the lovely Visitors Centre Cafe.

Golden Bay has a lot to offer and if you are taking a couple of days off in this isolated sylvan region, you will not regret it one bit.

LookandbookNZ can take care of your Golden Bay accommodation and Golden Bay activities needs by arranging everything and allowing you to have a fantastic time along with your family and/or friends.