8 of the Best Things to Do in Tākaka, Golden Bay

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Tākaka is the main town in Golden Bay, a place you’re likely to spend a night or two while exploring the natural wonders nearby. But what’s the town actually like? In this post I’ll show you the best things to do in Tākaka, both in the town itself and the surrounding area (that’s where the best stuff is).

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The Grove

The Grove is a small forest full of rocks and trees on the outskirts of Tākaka. Once in the depths of the Grove, you’ll be surrounded by rocks of all shapes and sizes, with walking trails linking it all together.

Labyrinth Rocks

We visited the Labyrinth Rocks a few years after the Grove and for a start we thought it was the same place. It’s very similar but with more tracks seemingly leading to nowhere it’s a lot easier to get lost — hence the name. It’s still a small area and you’re unlikely to be lost for longer than a few minutes — just start screaming if you get lost and I’m sure someone will find you!

Downtown Tākaka

The main street of Tākaka is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and galleries. It’s a good place to park the car up and do some shopping or grab some lunch.

Tākaka has long been renowned as an artsy, alternative town and you’ll see that influence while exploring. Eric Cartman would hate this place!

Te Waikoropupū Springs

You’ll find some of the clearest water in New Zealand at Te Waikoropupū Springs, a 10-minute drive from Tākaka. A short track takes you through the forest to a series of boardwalks and viewpoints overlooking Te Waikoropupū Springs.

The water is incredibly clear and shows some surreal colours in good light. This is definitely a place you need good overhead conditions to get the full effect.

Rawhiti Cave

I recently wrote a post about the best caves in New Zealand and Rawhiti Cave was close to the top. It’s an uphill slog to get there but the cave is incredible, especially the entrance which is guarded by thousands of stalactites. Rawhiti Cave is a 15-minute drive from downtown Tākaka and the walk should take 60-90 minutes.

Tākaka Hill

Tākaka Hill separates Golden Bay from the rest of the South Island. It’s a winding drive over the hill but there are some great views and a few places to stop including Tākaka Hill Walkway, Ngarua Caves and the Harwoods Hole Track.

Ngarua Caves is a good one to stop at, especially with kids. Tours take you through the caves — a pretty easy caving experience on boardwalks with no crawling around etc. It made it to number 1 on our Top Caves list for a reason!

Tata Beach

You’re only an hour away from Abel Tasman National Park and the best beaches in the South Island, but first the road passes through Pohara and Tata Beach. Tata Beach looks like it was ripped away from the national park and placed there as a convenient beach getaway from Tākaka.

Abel Tasman National Park

From Tata Beach it should take 45 minutes to drive to Totaranui. The road winds around the coast for a start, with a few viewpoints to stop off at. Wainui Falls is a popular place to stop and stretch your legs. From there it’s a winding gravel road all the way to Totaranui. Not the easiest drive but it’s well rewarded.

Once at Totaranui you’re right in the heart of Abel Tasman National Park. You can camp there (huge camping ground but basic facilities) or book a night or two in a nearby hut. Summer slots sell out quickly so you’ll need to book in advance — you can also camp as various places along the Abel Tasman Coastal Track.

If you’re only there for the day you’ve got a few options. You can walk to beaches in either direction (Goat Bay and Anapai Bay are close), catch a boat to another part of the track or just hang out at Totaranui which is a stunning beach in its own right.

Other Things to Do in Tākaka

You could play a round of golf, get in touch with your alternative side (but you might never leave), do some of the other walks nearby or drive over to Collingwood (20 minutes) and explore the western side of Golden Bay (Wharariki Beach pictured below).

Getting There

It should take around 90 minutes to drive from Nelson to Tākaka. The first section is easy, but soon after Motueka it gets steep with lots of tight cornering. Take your time and try and avoid driving in the dark if possible. Check out the Riuwaka Resurgence if you’ve got time. There’s a stunning riverside track leading to a hole / cave which the river emerges from. The other side is on the other side of Tākaka Hill!

Where to Stay

Check out these hotels in Tākaka / Golden Bay. We’ve stayed in the camping ground and at Totaranui, so no specific hotels to recommend here yet.

Where to Eat

There are plenty of dining options in Tākaka. Walk down the main street and you’ll see something good! We had a nice meal at one of the Thai food trucks and we would have eaten dinner at Roots Bar (burgers etc.) had we stayed in Tākaka and not Collingwood on our recent trip. There’s a park in the centre of town (pictured below) that has a few seats where you can eat your takeaways.

Are you planning a trip to the top of the South Island? Check out our Nelson itinerary — it covers most places within an hour or two drive of Nelson.

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Jon Algie

I'm a South Island local -- born in Timaru and raised in Dunedin. I left the island in 2006 and returned 10 years later. Having seen a good chunk of the world I realised how special this place is -- the most beautiful island in the world! Seven years (and almost 400 posts) later I'm still helping locals and tourists alike plan their trips around the South Island.