Farewell Spit & Golden Bay Walk
Visit the extraordinary sand spit at the top of the South Island, a 35-km natural wonder and gannet colony, gateway to the remote Kahurangi wilderness.
- 1
Puponga Farm Park
The farm park at the base of Farewell Spit is where the road ends and the protected spit begins — a gannet colony is visible from the public walking area.
- 2
Wharariki Beach Access
A 20-minute walk from the car park leads to the dramatic Wharariki Beach — wild, windswept, and framed by sea arches and islands covered in fur seals.
- 3
Farewell Spit Viewpoint
From the viewpoint, the full 35-km length of Farewell Spit is visible — the longest natural sand spit in New Zealand, curving out into Golden Bay.
- 4
Gannet Colony Overlook
Australasian gannets nest on the spit at its base — their colonies are visible from the public area, the birds spectacular in their black-and-white plumage.
- 5
Golden Bay Estuary
The sheltered estuary behind the spit is a crucial feeding ground for migratory wading birds, including bar-tailed godwits on their way to and from Alaska.
- 6
Kahurangi National Park Gateway
The road to Kahurangi begins near Farewell Spit — New Zealand's second largest national park protects ancient granite mountains and the famous Heaphy Track.