Golden Bay

Over the Hill and Worth Every Minute

Golden Bay takes a bit of commitment to get to. You're over Takaka Hill and back out the same way, so it's not a pass-through. But no-one I've ever met has regretted making the effort. I've been coming here for years and I'm still finding wee nuggets. Even two days is great, but ideally give yourself more.

Wharariki First, Everything Else Second

Wharariki Beach is the reason most people make the trip and it delivers. Caves, arches, rock pools and baby seal pups flopped around doing their thing. Try to time it for low tide - you'll get into so many more nooks and crannies. Most people turn right when they arrive. Turn left too. That's where the seal pups tend to hang out. One more thing: this place can blow like a bastard. If you're here for a couple of days, pick your least-windy day for Wharariki.

The Clearest Water You'll Probably Ever See

Te Waikoropupu Springs is genuinely one of the clearest bodies of water on earth. Officially somewhere around 76 to 81 metres clarity. The theoretical maximum for pure water is 83 metres. You can't swim here - it's sacred - but just standing at the edge of it is a bit of a moment. Go a little later in the morning when the sun hits it and the aqua colour really shows up. And while you're in Takaka township filling up your water tank, the tap water there comes from the same aquifer. Drink up.

Don't Skip Farewell Spit

The Farewell Spit bus tour is unlike anything else in the region. It's the only way to get out to the end of the spit, and it's worth every bit of it. Splash out the extra for the Gannet Colony add-on if you can - but book that early because spaces are limited, especially in peak season. If you've got sea kayaking on your list while you're up this way, the RANKERS promo code gets you a bit back in your pocket. The Collingwood Holiday Park is my pick for a base, or if you fancy something a bit different, the horse trekking and camping option near Wharariki is a genuinely cool setup away from the tourist trail.