1. Journey the length of Farewell Spit
At a whopping 34km long, one of the largest natural sandspits in the world has formed at the top of the South Island, the result of continuous coastal erosion and oceanic drift from the West. The Spit forms the ‘birds eye view’ of Golden Bay into the shape of New Zealand’s very own national bird - the kiwi - and it is home to over 90 wetland and migratory bird species of its own... how’s that for irony? As a dedicated wetland of international importance, Farewell Spit is what we like to call paradise for nature lovers, and is home to gannets, godwits, knots, and waders, as well as playful seal pups and cheeky oyster-catchers. A trip to the Spit with Farewell Spit Tours just wouldn’t be complete without a leisurely climb to the crest of the undulating sand dunes, before a speedy descent to the base, racing against the wind-wrought ripples that lay before you.