Golden Bay Walks
Links to Information on Walks
Queenstown will probably always reign supreme as New Zealand's adventure tourism capital, but Golden Bay is quietly attracting an ever-increasing stream of tourists and new settlers lured by its natural wonders and simplicity of spirit.
Golden Bay's name comes from the precious metal that inspired the Aorere gold rush in 1857. Today it is synonymous with the long, lazy swerve of sandy beaches that arch up to Farewell spit at the very top of the South Island. The breathtaking scenery and the astonishingly beautiful beaches in the Golden Bay region have become famous in this hidden paradise.
There are many walks throughout Golden Bay that range in difficulty. There are 30 minute strolls, such as the Grove and Washbourne Scenic Reserves, and the path that meanders along the edge of the inlet from the wharf at Milnthorpe to the beach. Walks that require a little more stamina include the Pupu Walkway, Wainui Falls and the Rawhiti Cave. There are also longer tramps such as the Kaituna track and the Rameka track.
For the more intrepid, various walks lead to Boulder Lake and the Cobb Dam, the historic goldfield and the rugged West Coast through the Kaituna Track from Rockville. All make excellent whole day, day or overnight tramps.
The drive to the road head on the West Coast takes over one and a half hours from Takaka and skirts the Marine Reserve of Westhaven or Wanganui Inlet before climbing through native bush reserves past Echo Point to the more windswept coast. An enjoyable overnight walk from the road end at Anatori takes you to the isolated and unmanned Kahurangi Lighthouse.
A great little book called "Walk Tasman" can be picked up at the local Tasman District Council office. It contains detailed information and maps of 19 walks in Golden Bay and plenty of other walks in the Tasman district.
