Travel through the wine and food basket area of the Waimea Plains and the historic Moutere region before driving up Takaka Hill and taking a short walk through ancient rock formations and unique forest to the first breathtaking viewpoints overlooking Motueka, Waimea, Tasman Bay, Nelson and the Mount Richmond Forest Park.
Within a short distance enjoy the stunning views of both Abel Tasman, Kahurangi National Parks and Golden Bay from ‘Marble Mountain’ from one of the highest roads in New Zealand, and its amazing rock formations. Descend into Golden Bay and the township of Takaka.
After morning refreshments and a few stories drive past the historic town of Collingwood and many sheltered coastal inlets alive with bird life, past some of the richest pastoral areas with a backdrop of forest and strange shaped rock and mountain formations.
View the famed Farewell Spit Nature Reserve, home in summer to around 140,000 migratory birds that flies in from Siberia and Alaska as part of the East Asian Australasian fly-way.
Stroll through Puponga Farm Park, a working farm, with its weather formed shapes in land and plants and past ancient dune lakes and into protected, regenerating coastal forest with a unique variation of plant species.
With the ever increasing wave pounding noise suddenly burst out onto the dramatically wild Wharariki beach with caves, rock arches, bold cliffs, islands and dramatic stacks alive with thriving wildlife. Return along the beautiful windswept, ever changing white sandy beach with a chance of spotting playful seal pups.
Head back towards Collingwood before turning off into a completely contrasting scene of the beautiful forests of the Kaituna Valley.
Enjoy refreshments at the ‘Naked Possum’ a licensed bush café, chat with the locals, check out the unique possum skin products and souvenirs before taking a short walk into the bush to an old goldfield sitting amongst Nikau Palms and giant Rata trees and marvel at the health of both the bush and bird life after intensive possum control.
Highlights
- Diversity of landscapes and forest types.
- Stunning alpine then coastal views in route.
- Lunch at the Naked Possum Cafe.
- Storm shaped coast - cliffs, caves, rock formations, wildlife, white sand dunes, islets...
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Price
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$329
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Departure
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7.30 am
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Duration
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11 hours
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* lunch included
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"A 12 hour Extravaganza! The ultimate NZ day tour. Many thanks."
Jo & Sally Russell.
U.K.
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