Popular Golden Bay Walks
Te Waikoropupu Springs ("Pupu Springs")
Features: A whole river emerges from an underground cave system. The world's most transparent fresh water.
Drive time to walk: 15 min south towards Takaka
Walk time: 30 min return, very easy
Not to be missed. One of New Zealand's most visited reserves. A circular track through native bush takes walkers past old gold mine workings and a series of springs.
Wharariki Beach
Features: Wild West Coast beach - huge white dunes, caves and stunning rock formations.
Drive to walk: 40 min north towards Farewell Spit.
Walk time: between 40 min - 2 hours return, easy but there is a steepish drop-off on one side of a section of the track (this can be avoided by walking along the top of the hill).
Very highly recommended. Made all the more attractive by the fact that there is no vehicle access directly to the beach and requires a 20 min walk across picturesque farmland from the car park.
Totaranui to Mutton Cove, Abel Tasman National Park
Features: The northern coast of Abel Tasman park is the most attractive and quietest part of the park. Golden sand beaches and crystal clear water.
Drive time to walk: 45 min south around the bay. A beautiful drive through Abel Tasman National Park to Totatanui in the very centre of the park.
Walk time: 2 hours each way from Totaranui to Mutton Cove. Easy but can include a side trip to Separation Point (seal colony) which is a steep, rocky track. Leave time for a swim, relax on the beach, or explore additional walks from Totaranui.
Pupu Hydro Walkway
Features: bird life, history, scenery.
Drive time to walk: 15 min south towards Takaka
Walk time: 2 hours round trip. Strenuous uphill, Boardwalk is stunning but not recommended for people with a fear of heights.
Wainui Falls
Features: A walk through various landscapes including New Zealand native bush to one of the best waterfalls in the region.
Drive time to walk: 40min south around the bay.
Kaituna Track
Features: Native bush, old goldmine workings.
Drive time to walk: 20 min north towards Bainham
Walk time: 20 min - 3 hours return. Easy
It is possible to follow the track to the Westhaven Inlet on the West Coast (an 8-hour tramp). Most people prefer to walk only to the site of the old gold workings (20min) or on to the river forks (an easy 3-hour return walk).
The Grove Reserve
Features: Dramatic karst limestone features and a view over Golden Bay.
Drive time to walk: 20 min south past Takaka towards Pohara.
Walk time: 30 min return. Easy.
The walk wanders past towering columns of limestone covered with creepers and heavy sub-tropical native vegetation.
Fossil Point
Features: A walk over farmland leading to a wild sandy beach with rocks containing fossils at low tide. A view down the northern side of the Farewell Spit.
Drive time to walk: 30 min north to the base of the Farewell Spit.
Walk time: 2 hours return. Easy.
Abel Tasman Walks south of Totaranui
Features: Abel Tasman coastline. Walk sandy bays usually combined with a water taxi trip.
Drive time to walk: 45 min south
Walk time: Various
Taupo Point
Features: A quiet beach walk with interesting rock formations and sandy coves finishing at a historic Maori settlement.
Drive time to walk: 40 min south
Walk time: 2 hours return. Access is tide-dependent.
Rawhiti Cave
Features: Follows a river valley to a stunning cave entrance covered with a multitude of stalactite formations.
Drive time to walk: 30 min south.
Walk time: 3 hours return. Easy but to get to the cave, there is a long series of switchbacks that are quite demanding.
Salisbury Bridge and Falls
Features: A historic foot bridge built during the gold mining days leads to Salisbury Falls and a swimming hole.
Drive time to walk: 30min north-west.
Walk time: 10 min. Easy.
Milthorpe Park
Features: An extensive network of walks in a forest of native trees and shrubs and towering eucalyptus trees bordering a quiet often deserted beach.
Drive time to walk: 7 min north.
Walk time: 20 min to several hours (to walk all the tracks). Easy.
Hiltop Walk
Features: Wild West Coast beach - stunning rock formations, extensive views of the coast and Farewell Spit.
Drive to walk: 40 min north to the base of Farewell Spit.
Walk time: 2 hours to 6 hours (for all 3 sections). Can be walked a section at a time or in its entirety, medium easy but there is a steep cliff on one side of some sections of the track.
Golden Bay Weather and Climate
Golden Bay region enjoys a very moderate climate with long pleasant summers, mild winters and plentiful all-year-round sunshine
- Since Golden Bay is the most northerly part of New Zealand's South Island, it has the mildest climate in the South Island.
- With more than 2,400 hours of sunshine, the Nelson Tasman Region consistently rates as New Zealand's sunniest spot!
- Our unpolluted air and clear skies mean our sun is quite strong in summer so care is needed if your skin is not used to the sun.
- January and February are the warmest months of the year and July is generally the coolest.
- As we are blessed with many clear sunny days in winter, it is possible to enjoy outdoor activities in all four seasons.
- Here in Tukurua we are protected by mountains from the cold south winds in winter so we enjoy a micro-climate in which snow is unknown, but snowfalls are common in July and August on the mountains surrounding Golden Bay, making for a beautiful backdrop to our wonderful scenery.
- To get some idea of Golden Bay's weather see the current Golden Bay weather
Average Temperatures
Summer (Dec - Feb): Mean max 23 C (73°F) Mean Min 12°C (54°F)
Autumn (Mar - May): Mean max 19°C (66°F) Mean Min 8°C (46°F)
Winter (Jun - Aug): Mean max 13°C (55°F) Mean Min 2°C (36°F)
Spring (Sep - Nov): Mean max 17°C (63°F) Mean Min 7°C (45°F)
Arts and Crafts in Golden Bay - Artists and Galleries
With an abundance of natural inspiration, it is no surprise that Golden Bay is an artisan mecca and is home to some of New Zealand's best artists...
The Nelson Tasman area in general and Golden Bay, in particular, are famous for their artisans. Golden Bay artists produce a fantastic variety of artwork and many are nationally recognized, exhibiting in art galleries all over New Zealand. Almost every side road in Golden Bay boasts an artist of some sort – potters, painters, sculptors, bone carvers, jade carvers, silversmiths, wood turners, jewellers, photographers, soap makers and weavers of flax, willow and wool as well as the more unusual such as candle makers, a trug maker and a drum maker. For an up-to-date directory see artists in Golden Bay
Golden Bay Reserves and Natural Wonders
In this hidden corner of New Zealand, Golden Bay is home to several famous attractions, including New Zealand's largest freshwater springs and the southern hemisphere's deepest cave...
Pupu Springs (Waikoropupu Springs)
- The largest freshwater springs in New Zealand.
- The world's clearest freshwater.
- An underwater observation window offers spectacular viewing of the incredibly clear waters and brightly coloured plant life.
- You will pass the side road to Pupu Springs on your way from Takaka to our accommodation.
- A short walk leads to the springs and is 40 minutes well spent!
- Again the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) website has a brief description of this and other Short Takaka Walks
Caves
- Golden Bay has many other fascinating natural wonders including several limestone caves which can be toured offering some beautiful, magical settings.
- One cave is the deepest in the southern hemisphere, a second has the biggest single drop in the southern hemisphere and still another is where bones from the extinct Moa can be found.
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