How long does it take to walk Farewell Spit?
1 hr 30 minTime: 1 hr 30 min The entrance to the Inner Beach from the car park is through an entrance in the fence (kissing gate); walk along the beach until you reach the 4WD Spit Track.
How far can you drive on Farewell Spit?
Farewell Spit Nature Reserve is a bird sanctuary and wetland of international importance, being more strictly protected than a national park. Farewell Spit is around 35km long and public access is restricted to the first 4km. Vehicle access is only allowed for supervised tours by concession holders.
Is Farewell Spit worth visiting?
Birds, wildlife, and beaches are the main reasons to visit Farewell Spit. Plus, visiting the northernmost tip of the South Island is a modest bucket-list adventure. As independent visitors are allowed on the first 2.5 miles of Farewell Spit, it's possible to visit just for the beaches.
Is Farewell Spit growing?
Indeed Farewell Spit is slowly lengthening, although its main growth is a widening of the huge sandplain on the Golden Bay shore. The spit began building at the end of the last ice age 14,000 years ago.
Can I walk the Farewell Spit?
You can freely enjoy Puponga Farm Park and can walk a short distance along the base of Farewell Spit. There is no public access elsewhere on the Spit except by DOC permit or with a licensed tour operator.
What is Cape Farewell?
Cape Farewell (Greenlandic: Nunap Isua; Danish: Kap Farvel) is a headland on the southern shore of Egger Island, Nunap Isua Archipelago, Greenland. As the southernmost point of the country, it is one of the important landmarks of Greenland.
Why was Farewell Spit near Golden Bay in the news last week?
The pilot whales that died after a mass stranding at Farewell Spit have been secured to fixed points in the tidal zone to decompose naturally. The pilot whales that died after a mass stranding last week at Farewell Spit have been secured to fixed points in the tidal zone to decompose naturally.
Why was Farewell Spit in the news?
Thirty-six whales have been confirmed as stranded on Farewell Spit at the top of the South Island on Thursday night, and some have died. The Department of Conservation travelled to the area to confirm the stranding.
Who owns Farewell Spit?
The light was fully automated and the last lighthouse keeper was withdrawn in 1984. The lighthouse keeper's house and two accommodation buildings are still being maintained for use by the Department of Conservation, Maritime New Zealand, and tour groups.
What ecosystem contains Farewell Spit?
A 2013 survey found that Farewell Spit regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds. The site is the highest ranked ecosystem in the Tasman District (2019 survey)....Internationally-significant habitat for shorebirds.LaunchedFunding commitment5 years7 more rows
How did Cape Farewell get its name?
Cape Farewell is a headland in New Zealand, the most northerly point on the South Island. It is located just west of Farewell Spit. First mapped by Abel Tasman, it was named by British explorer Captain James Cook in 1770 —it was the last land seen by his crew as they departed on the ship's homeward voyage.
What bird species live in the spit?
A wetland of international importance, it has been a bird sanctuary since the 1930’s and provides a home for over 90 bird species. Bar tailed godwits, knots, curlews, whimbrels and turnstones fly around 12,000 kilometres every northern hemisphere autumn to spend the summer here in the south. The spit also has a gannet colony.
How many faces does a sandpit have?
With open sea on one side and sheltered waters on the other, this massive sandspit has two entirely different faces.
Farewell Spit - Off the beaten track
Farewell Spit is the longest natural sandbar in the world and can be found at the wild and windswept northernmost point of New Zealand's South Island. The Spit is regarded as a Wetland of International Importance and as such is protected by New Zealand's Department of Conservation. No private access… visitor information » off the beaten track
FAREWELL SPIT & PUPONGA FARM PARK TRACKS - Golden Bay, Nelson : New Zealand T..
Skip to main content Home »FAREWELL SPIT & PUPONGA FARM PARK TRACKS - Golden Bay, Nelson FAREWELL SPIT & PUPONGA FARM PARK TRACKS - Golden Bay, Nelson Visit Website Choose from shorter or longer walks across farmland, and discover a lighthouse and spectacular views of the rugged coastline.…
FAREWELL SPIT & PUPONGA FARM PARK TRACKS - Golden Bay, Nelson
Choose from shorter or longer walks across farmland, and discover a lighthouse and spectacular views of the rugged coastline. From the Wharariki car park, follow a vehicle track west to Green Hills Stream and beyond.
RATANUI LODGE BOUTIQUE HOTEL - Golden Bay, Nelson
Explore the northern Abel Tasman and Farewell Spit. Continental breakfast and WIFI always free. Across the street from Pohara Beach in spectacular, secluded Golden Bay. 10 mins from Takaka township. 10 en-suite rooms with luxurious down bedding. Saltwater swimming pool and hot tub. Dining Room…
How long is the farewell spit?
Farewell Spit is around 35km long and public access is restricted to the first 4km. Vehicle access is only allowed for supervised tours by concession holders. Through sharing the experience of visiting Farewell Spit we can help to raise public awareness of this extraordinary ecosystem, so vital for our migratory birds.
Where is Farewell Spit Eco Tours located?
Farewell Spit Eco Tours, located in Collingwood, New Zealand have been operating on Farewell Spit for over 60 years. Commencing as mail delivery to the Farewell Spit Lighthouse keepers and their families, we operate tours on Farewell Spit which is known for migratory birds, and its fragile environment
What is the highlight of the trip to Spit Beach?
A highlight of the trip along the spit beach is the opportunity to stop and climb one of the low sand dunes that run down the spine of the spit. From the top of the dunes a 360 degree view unfolds. Discover more...
Where is Cape Farewell?
Cape Farewell is the northern-most point of the South Island. Peep over the edge of the dramatically sculpted quartz sandstone cliffs and you may see lazy New Zealand Fur Seals soaking up the sun on a rocky ledge far below. Discover more...
What ship ran aground in the Farewell Spit?
The wooden ship, Queen Bee, ran aground off Farewell Spit in 1877, and the SS Port Kembla was sunk in 1917 by a mine, which had been laid by a German ship, some 17 kilometers off the spit.
How to get to Farewell Spit from Takaka?
To get to Farewell Spit from Takaka , follow State Highway 60 north for about 50 kilometers. The journey is 20 kilometers from Collingwood. There is no public transport available to get to Puponga.
What birds live in Farewell Spit?
Farewell Spit has been an internationally-renowned bird sanctuary and wetland site since the 1930s. It is home to over 90 recorded bird species. Each spring, Bar-Tailed Godwits, Knots, Curlews, Whimbrels, and Turnstones fly around 12,000 kilometers every northern hemisphere autumn to spend the southern hemisphere summer at the spit. The area is also a breeding ground for penguins and home to a gannet colony.
Why do whales strand in Farewell Spit?
Some experts suggest the strandings are in part due to the unique topography of Farewell Spit. The spit has shallow beach shelves, which are difficult for whales to detect with their sonar, and the unique hooked shape of the spit makes it difficult for whales to get out.
What is the spit made of?
The spit is made up of fine golden sand. The land to the west of the spit is largely made up of late cretaceous quartz sandstones, comprised of silica and traces of other heavy minerals, such as garnet, ilmenite, magnetite, and pyroxene. The fine sand is created by the erosion of the cliffs, and is carried by the sea currents to the east, further extending the spit.
What are the two sides of the spit?
The two sides of the spit are very different. The northern side has steep, unstable dunes, which are exposed to strong winds from the Tasman Sea. The southern side faces Golden Bay, and is more stable. It is largely covered with vegetation. The tide on the southern side can recede up to seven kilometers, exposing some 80 square kilometers of mud flats and providing a rich feeding ground for many sea birds.
What is the name of the spit in Maori?
The Maori name for the spit is ‘Onetahua’, which means “heaped up sand”.
What to See and Do
Birds, wildlife, and beaches are the main reasons to visit Farewell Spit. Plus, visiting the northernmost tip of the South Island is a modest bucket-list adventure.
The Different Tours of Farewell Spit
Most of Farewell Spit is administered by New Zealand's Department of Conservation due to its importance as a bird habitat. Only one company has permission to take tourists to Farewell Spit, so that makes planning easy. Farewell Spit Tours operates from Collingwood, and take visitors out on large four-wheel-drive buses designed to drive on the sand.
How to Visit Without a Tour
If you don't want to join a tour but still want to experience something of the spit, independent visitors are permitted on the first 2.5 miles of the spit and at the Puponga Farm Park. Cape Farewell and Wharariki Beach can be reached from the parking lot at Puponga, so are easy for independent visitors to get to.
Where to stay
Takaka (population 1,300) is the biggest town in Golden Bay and offers the widest range of accommodation options. There are backpacker hostels, motels, guesthouses, and campgrounds. The Shady Rest is a particularly lovely boutique guesthouse in a century-old home on Takaka's main street.
How to Get there
Whether you take a guided tour or go it alone, you'll need your own vehicle to get to Golden Bay and Farewell Spit. A limited number of private shuttles run between Nelson/Motueka and Golden Bay, but these are primarily for trekkers embarking on the Heaphy Track in the Kahurangi National Park .
Where to see the Farewell Spit Lighthouse?
Along the beach you'll see stunning views of the Tasman Sea coastline and the opportunity to climb the sand dune at Mullet Channel for panoramic views of the intertidal plain and a stop at Fossil Point, .
What is the highlight of the trip to Spit Beach?
A highlight of the trip along the spit beach is the opportunity to stop and climb one of the low sand dunes that run down the spine of the spit. From the top of the dunes a 360 degree view unfolds. Discover more...
How many godwits are there at the spit?
See where Whales strand and uncover the mystery of the migrant waders. During the summer there are up to 20,000 godwits and 30,000 knots at the Spit, as well as other northern migratory birds, New Zealand natives and introduced species. Bring cameras and binoculars to make the most of this nature-lover's paradise.
What is Cape Farewell?
Cape Farewell is the northernmost point of the South Island and the cliff-top views are spectacular . These dramatic coastal cliffs are sliced through with fault-lines (vertically walled slashes) where streams strangely run inland rather than to sea.