Takaka

The main centre for Golden Bay is the small township of Takaka, founded in 1854. The community includes many alternative lifestylers, it’s a town full of character. There’s a small museum, a movie theatre and a great choice of shops and cafes.

Takaka is a small dairying town, producing well over half a million litres of milk per day in the peak season, and it is processed into milk powder for export at the Takaka dairy factory.  The farmers and the milk factory playing a very important role to the economy of Golden Bay.  The waters of Golden Bay also offer sheltered bays for some of the best scallop beds in New Zealand.  A growing mussell industry also evident in the mussell farms in Pakawau and Wainui Bay.

Takaka is also close to a number of nearby attractions - The Ngarua Marble Caves, The Anatoki River, famous for its tame eels which can be fed at Bencarrie Nature Park located beside the clear waters of the Anatoki River.  The eels have been fed in this spot since 1914 and some of the eels are upto 90 years of age. Also along the River is the Anatoki Salmon Farm, set in tranquil surroundings with the sound of the river and native birds all around. You can fish for salmon, then let the owners clean and smoke your catch, so you can eat it on the spot. If you’re not up for DIY, you can also buy fresh or smoked fish.

Just outside the Takaka town is Pupu Springs (Waikoropupu in Maori) these are the largest freshwater springs in New Zealand, the water here is renowned for being the second clearest in the world. There are at least 16 springs in this area, the two main springs can be seen from purpose built platforms located a short walk from the car park.

East of Takaka is the Abel Tasman Scenic Drive, this scenic, mostly coastal route will take you to Pohara, Ligar Bay and Tata Beach and then onto the top end of the Abel Tasman National Park at Waninui, then finally over the hill to Totaranui.

Just past the old cement works and the working port of Tarakohe, the road rises to a hilltop to the Abel Tasman Memorial.  A few minutes walk to the tower and viewpoint, where a marble plaque commemorates the visit by Abel Tasman in 1642.

Another spot of interest is The Grove Scenic Reserve which is a small bush reserve with delightful "storybook" forests the trail leads you through limestone gullies and around huge rata trees and nikau palms. You'll walk through narrow canyons in the rock through to a great lookout. The loop track will take around 30 minutes to walk.

To find this hidden away gem from Takaka drive along Abel Tasman Drive. Just before the small beach settlement of Pohara turn right onto Clifton Rd and appox 1km towards the foothills you will come to a small carpark.