Golden Bay & Farewell Spit

A visit to Golden Bay is an adventure in itself. Two of its most famous attractions are Pupu Springs and Farewell Spit.

Pupu Springs are the largest cold-water springs in the Southern Hemisphere – only Antarctica has clearer waters. The springs discharge 14,000 litres of water per second which would be sufficient to supply a city the size of Boston, Massachusetts. The springs are a sacred place for Maori and an area of great beauty.

Farewell Spit is the longest natural sandbar in the world at 35 kilometres. The spit is home to over 90 species of birds and has been a sanctuary for over 70 years. Godwits fly the 12,000-kilometre journey from Alaska in around 8 days to join waders, turnstones, knots and oystercatchers. All-day eco guided tours access the spit in a comfortable purpose-built 4WD vehicle to a special place of international importance.