Picton to Takawa (Golden Bay)

Picton to Takawa (Golden Bay)

25 - 27 Feb we headed to Annies Nirvana YHA associate in Takaka, Golden Bay, stopping at Kaiteriteri on route to confirm our booking for a sailing adventure of the Abel Tasman National Park. Our main reason for staying at Takawa was a trip the next day to Farewell Spit, which we knew would be a lengthy afternoon trip. In honesty, this was the worst accommodation we stayed in on the whole of our time away. The bed was excruitiatingly uncomfortable and the facilities were inadequate for the number of people staying there. We stayed in the end of a row of joined cabins in the garden (like a large garden shed with separate compartments). We also found the other backpackers, of all ages, to be insular and a bit 'up themselves' for the older ones. The hostel keeper was friendly and helpful though.

26th Februay and we took a slow drive to Collingwood for our afternoon trip on the Farewell Spit Eco Tour, on the way taking time out to stop at Pupu Springs (Te Waikoropupu) for coffee and a walk around the nature reserve. The springs bubbling up today, the cleanest of anywhere, probably started as rain 50 years ago and pump out about 14,000 litres of water every minute! This is definately worth a wonder around and the flora, fauna and springs are stunning. We stopped for an early lunch at the Mussel Inn, Onekaka, between Takaka and Collingwood. Get there if you can, a lovely spot to sit inside or out eating local mussel chowder washed down with organic home brewed beer. We would definately head back there again to enjoy the bear and live bands they often have.

The Farewell Spit Eco Tour was one of the major highlights of our whole holiday, the tour was led by a lively and knowledgable lady who was a local character. The expidition is in unique 4 wheel drive buses. The trip takes you to the most northly point of the South Island (Cape Farewell) and then along the spit to the lighthouse. You get a chance to walk along the sands and explore caves and coves before heading towards the old lighthouse. You stop here for a walk around, coffee and home made muffins. My o/h climbed the lighthouse whilst I walked around the lighhouse keepers cottages. 3 keepers lived in this remote area, with their families, until the lighthouse was automated. You get an insight into the remoteness of this little community and the harsh life the keepers and their families must have endured yet the family photographs on display show happy, smiling and carefree children. The small community was self-sufficient to an extent with their own vegetable and fruti gardens and they kept their own cows and chickens. The tour along the spit ended with fun time climbing sand dunes and walking along the shoreline barefoot in the Tasman Sea swell.





New Zealand, Picton, Takawa, Farewell Spit