 
Golden Bay Attractions - Adventure & Tours, Places to See and Things to Do!
Golden Bay offers a playground to explore and gateway to two New Zealand's popular National Parks: the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi
National Park.
The bay has two main townships; Takaka and Collingwood. Both offer supermarket, cafes, pubs and fuel stations.
Golden Bay has various types of artist and crafts-people dotted around the area, be sure to check a few out during your stay.
Emergency Contacts for Golden Bay...
Area Code is 03
Country Code is 64
Directory Assistance 018
Emergency Services - Dial 111
Takaka Police - 525 9211
Takaka Doctor - 525 9911
Collingwood Doctor - 525 9808
Golden Bay Dentist - 525 8340
Golden Bay Vet - 525 8011
BP Takaka - 525 9419
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Farewell Spit - Golden Bay's most visible landmark on a map, the sand-spit stretches 35 kilometers in length (and extending in size each year!),
attracting the breeding ground for over 100 species of birds. The spit has been designated a Wetland of International Importance, visitors will see
the massive wind-sculpted landscape of Golden Bay's west coast beaches and will be inspired by the gem of the bay. A place to visit at any time of the year and a must-to-do-and-see while in the bay. |
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Te Waikoropupu Springs - Known locally as Pupu Springs, the rushing glass-clear water of these famous springs have made headlines as the clearest fresh waters in the world! Just a 10-minute or so drive from Takaka you will get to experience this natural spring. There is a choice of short easy walking tracks which are well worth exploring passing stonework from the gold-rush days.
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Kahurangi National Park - New Zealand’s most recent and second largest National Park starts right at the doorstep to Golden Bay. Snow-covered mountain tops, glacial lakes and bizarre limestone landscapes contrast with a huge variety of flora and fauna, palm-fringed beaches and pounding surf. The famous Heaphy Track leads you from Golden Bay through a spectacular and ever-changing landscape to the lush rainforests of the West Coast. The Cobb Reservoir road provides the only vehicle access into the magnificent alpine region within the park.
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Abel Tasman National Park - Established in 1942 renowned for its golden beaches, sculptured granite cliffs, and world-famous Abel Tasman Coastal Track. It also has a mild climate and is a good place to visit at any time of the year.
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Check out the Golden Bay beaches, they are dotted around the entire bay and easily driven to. If you are into a beach tramp the ideal trip would be from Patons Rock Beach right through to Parapara Beach; check the tides, as you will be crossing the channel at Onekaka.
There are a number of interesting walk-ways in the area, including Wainui Falls and the popular Pupu Walkway.
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Wainui Falls - The track starts from a carpark in Wainui Bay, 20 km north-east from Takaka. From the carpark the track crosses farmland for a short distance before entering forest and climbing rapidly to a point where you see the river surprisingly far below. Walk through a forest of nikau palms, rata trees and ferns. Keep a lookout for a possible sighting of the giant snail, Powelliphanta. Look but don't touch! A few minutes after crossing the swing bridge over the Wainui River you will hear the falls before they suddenly appear, usually curtained in spray.
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Tata Beach - The golden sands of Tata Beach is a great spot, north of Pohara and on the way to Totaranui. You will find a boat launch ramp and a great place water-skiing, kayaking and swimming. The small settlement has a number of holiday homes and cottages for rent. |
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Pohara Beach - The hub of the bay for holiday makers, where numbers in droves flock over the summer months. The Pohara Camping Ground offers great facilities, a shop and a number motels nearby. Holiday houses here are hard to secure as they are booked out well in advance or are owner occupied. There is a mini-golf range, cafes and safe swimming beach to enjoy. |
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Patons Rock - On the way to Collingwood just 10-minutes out of Takaka, is a rural community with a number of holiday homes available all year round.
A safe swimming beach, rock pools at low tide and a stroll along the beach makes it an ideal spot. 4x4 access onto the beach at low tide can take you round to Onekaka and Parapara Beaches. |
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Onekaka Wharf - Very little now remains of this historic site from the 1920's and 30's. Shipment of iron-ore from the nearby Iron & Steel Works was loaded here for Japan. The beach is ideal for roaming, picnics and the cottage on the beach known as 'The House at Poohs Corner' that intrigues kids as the house where Pooh Bear lives! |
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Tukarua Beach - Just further on from Onekaka is Tukarua and the only beach access is via the camping ground or where you have booked yourself into one of the beachfront. A tidy safe beach and very popular over the summer where holiday makers and their day guest enjoy. If you are up for a hike you can easily reach Onekaka Beach or just around the corner Parapara Beach at low tides. |
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Parapara Beach - Similar to Patons Rock, this small community attracts a number of day visitors over the summer along with holiday makers who have secured
a holiday home to rent. A clean safe beach and no problem of finding a suitable area to sit back and relax. |
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Milthorpe Reserve - Over the causeway (inlet) of Parapara, and on the right is a turn off to Milthrope. At the very end you will find a peaceful area to picnic and walk access to the beach. A great little spot for the children to enjoy. For the energetic one can walk the beach from here right through to Collingwood. |
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Collingwood - Situated at the western end of State Highway 60 you will find the quiet township of Collingwood. From here you can launch yourself onto the Heaphy Track in the Kahurangi National Park or catch an eco-tour to the bird sanctuary of Farewell Spit. It’s easy to rent a mountain bike to explore beautiful Aorere Valley and the main-street you will find the museum full of local history. From Collingwood you can venture onward to the Te Anaroa Caves, Rockville Museum, Pakawau and Wharariki Beach, where there’s a seal colony. Collingwood has a number of accommodations including a small camping ground, motels, B&B's and holiday homes to hire. |
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Pakawau - A small beach-side community with dairy, camping-ground, cafe (once a school), great picnic area's and unpopulated beach. |
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Puponga - On the way to Farewell Spit you will pass this little settlement, an ideal pit-stop for a picnic. |
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Wharariki - Right on the coast, wild, sometimes dramatic, sand dune formations, well worth the up-hill hike from the car-park across wind swept farmland. Be sure to take windbreaker and camera! |
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