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You must visit Wharariki Beach at low tide. Walk the hilltop walk via Pillar Point Lighthouse. Try a Cape Farewell horse trek. Wander round Pupu Springs. Find the Pupu Walkway and the trek to Rawhiti Cave. Tour Te Anarua Cave. Enjoy the Atmosphere, and beer at the Mussel Inn. Feed the eels, catch your own salmon, so much to do, you need a week ......... Scroll down for more info |
WHARARIKI AND PUPONGA FARM PARK
Probably the No 1 beach in the South Island. Enough said .......
FAREWELL SPIT
Farewell Spit Eco and Nature Tours arranged. Somerset House is 2 minutes walk from the Safari Tour's office and departure point. Farewell Spit is a very popular attraction year round, by bus along the 34 km sandspit to view the birds which migrate annually from Siberia and Alaska. You may like to browse these two websites below:Farewell Spit Eco Tours www.farewellspit.com
Farewell Spit Nature Experience www.farewell-spit.co.nz
WORLD'S BEST PUB?
You be the judge... The Mussel Inn - Live music, good food, home brewed beers, poetry evenings and quiz nights are all part of the experience. It is said here "The only good possum is a dead possum"! Free beer in return for a tail. See their Gig Guide for upcoming entertainment: www.musselinn.co.nz
KARAMEA - WEST COAST ACCOMMODATION and TRANSPORT
Having enjoyed Golden Bay, now for the Heaphy track ! At the far end we cooperate closely with Paul and Brian at Rongo Backpackers in Karamea. Rongo can transport you from Kohaihai to Karamea, accommodate you, show you the delights of Karamea, its environs and beyond, to the Wangapeka Track and arrange buses to Westport. www.rongobackpackers.comA wonderful place to stay on the West Coast is The Old Slaughterhouse at Hector, consistently one of the highest rated hostels in all of NZ in the BBH book. 97% 2008-09. Try it there. www.oldslaughterhouse.co.nz
TREKKING in GOLDEN BAY
Collingwood is at the north-eastern end of the Heaphy Track, the 3/4 day GREAT WALK through the Kahurangi National Park to Karamea. Somerset House offers a peaceful atmosphere for relaxation before or after the trek, and the chance to hire a car or borrow bikes to explore the north end of Golden Bay.
There are several day walks in the area, round the Puponga Farm Park at Wharariki, Cape Farewell, Pillar Point Lighthouse and the Old Man Range. A good day's tramp is the Kaituna Track, via Knuckle Hill at Westhaven through to the Naked Possum near Rockville. A good place to eat! Other good day walks include Mount Stevens and the Aorere Goldfields (mountain biking allowed) or a day trip to Perry Saddle Hut westwards on the Heaphy Track itself.
HEAPHY TRACK INFORMATION
Trek Express www.trekexpress.co.nz will transport larger groups, eg from Nelson airport, to and from Collingwood. Both ends of the track are served as well as to the start of the Wangapeka, as will Peter at www.nelsonlakesshuttles.co.nz.We can arrange baggage transfer to Karamea or you can leave luggage or your vehicle here and maybe fly back over the Track to Golden Bay with Jim Larsen of Remote Adventures. Ph 0800 150 338. www.remoteadventures.co.nz
Have you considered using Heaphy Track Help to relocate your vehicle to Kohaihai, ready for you to continue your circuit of the South Island without having to backtrack? Contact Derry or Helen having visited their website. www.heaphytrackhelp.co.nz
ACTIVITIES
Windsurfer & Kayaks
We have kayaks available on request for exploring the estuary or streamer-fishing for Kahawai.
Yoga
BJ's Yoga classes (gold coin donation ) are held on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings at Collingwood Area School.
Fishing
From boat and beach for snapper and kahawai, flyfishing and spinning for trout and salmon in the rivers.
Horseriding
Day trips and overnight horseriding is available nearby. Contact us for details
Kayaking
Great locations nearby, also in Takaka and in the Abel Tasman National Park
Cycling
STOP PRESS NEWS STOP PRESS NEWS STOP PRESS NEWS STOP PRESS NEWS>
We have 2 newish road bikes. Collingwood is ideal cycling country, especially on the uncrowded roads and the route to Farewell Spit is flat! For $20 single, $30 for 2 for fuel and handling charge we will take you close to Pillar Point, where you can explore Wharariki Beach and cycle back at the end of the day. (24 kms on flat roads)
DoC have announced a trial this winter to allow cycling on the Heaphy track. An opportunity not to be missed !!
There's world-class mountain biking on your doorstep in Golden Bay with the Rameka Track voted by Kiwis as one of the 101 "must do" activities in NZ.
Escape Adventures in Takaka offers guided mountain bike trips, hire and transport to all the great riding that Golden Bay has to offer. Contact them on 03 525 8783 or http://escapeadventures.co.nz
Gold Prospecting
The Collingwood goldfields were famous, for a short while ! Borrow my gold pans and find yourself some specks, or maybe a nugget!
Your own Tour
"Barefoot" Tour to the end of the world. A nature Tours for the discerning.
These new format tours depart from Somerset House Backpackers, Collingwood. 27 kms from Takaka.
(Golden Bay Coachlines Bus leaves Takaka i site for Collingwood at 0900 hrs daily.)
Return transport to Takaka by arrangement.
Your tour normally takes between five and six hours and includes a one-hour cliff top walk from Cape Farewell, the most northern part of the South Island, to Wharariki Beach.
This circuit, for the young at heart, has a degree of adventure and excitement.
You will experience the wild freedom of Wharariki, the northernmost beach in the South Island.
It will push the boundaries of your comfort zone. You'll enter remote sea tunnels where the waves come roaring in.
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You'll have sand between your toes and wind in your hair. Seals at your feet and bird life all around you. |  |
You'll visit the bay that is world famous for whale strandings.
In December 2005 at Puponga, the Department of Conservation SAVED over 120 whales with the help of local volunteers and others from all over New Zealand.
The Farewell Spit Visitor Centre overlooks this area and has many interesting photos of whale strandings and bird life. The cafe is an excellent place to relax for a while. From the hill behind the Centre you will get a great beach view along Farewell Spit.
Collingwood is the home of Rosy Glow Chocolates, quite possibly one of the best chocolates in the world! Try them, we are sure you'll agree.
You may go up the Aorere River Valley to the Quartz Range Road and you'll be able to walk the high swing bridge over the river, rather like a tight-rope walker. No longer, it was destroyed by the flood in december 2010
Return via the Naked Possum, a craft centre and cafe, and saunter along the eastern Kaituna Track for an hour or so.
At Bainham, visit the little historic country store and post office, now run by Lorna Langford's niece, Sukhita.
Alternatively, you may take the scenic drive along the Westhaven Inlet to the end of the Kaituna Track, an old gold mining and logging trail. You could then climb Knuckle Hill to enjoy the panoramic views from the top, maybe continue to Patarau Beach on the wild West Coast.
This tour will give you an unique Golden Bay experience.
You will need to take a light daypack with warm sweater and waterproofs, in case!
Pack some lunch and a bottle of water, hat and some sunscreen.
Wear strong walking/tramping shoes or boots.
Don't forget your camera, or to recharge your batteries!
Relax and visit these amazing places either in our tour vehicle with a guide, your own car, by bicycle or Somerset rental car.
You'll have a great day!
Fares: from 6th February 2008.
Full Day Guided Tour. $240 for up to 4 persons.
Self drive Tour. Car rental, unlimited mileage, map and recommended itinerary. $50 for up to 4 persons. ie $12.50 pp. (Fuel in addition)
Walk / Cycle Tour to Wharariki. Transport to Pillar Point, maps and recommendations for the day, cycle back to Collingwood. 27 kms on flat picturesque roads along the coast. $20 pp. Max 2 people.
All prices in New Zealand Dollars, including GST (Goods & Services Tax) Enquiries and reservations Chris Ledger
Somerset House, Collingwood, Golden Bay, New Zealand
EMail cjledger@actrix.co.nz
Local phone: 524 8624
National: 03 524 8624
International: 0064 3 524 8624
