Cape Farewell — Local services in South Island

Amazing day out Saturday in the Golden Bay to go on a tour to Cape Farewell Spit.

The eco-tour driver Paddy was great with plenty of info as the day went on. He was interesting and informative with a few dad jokes chucked in as we travel to the Cape and back home. It is a well-worth tour to go on.

On the Saturday of King's birthday weekend, the tour lasted for 6 hours, and as the sun went down around 5 in the afternoon yet I thought it was a bloody good day out.

You wouldn't imagine you are standing on top of the South Island on a Spit where the sand continues to move with the wind about 3.0 meters a year. At the lighthouse, there are lots of old Pine trees and Macro trees that stand out from a great distance. Wildlife. There are possums, rats, and pigs, and while I was there, two builders were working on one of three houses there shot half a dozen possums overnight which I didn't think you would see Wildlife roaming around the Cape. It's an amazing place and the lighthouse is being repainted at present. At night it shines a red light I think and the knight turns clockwise rotation. The history is amazing as well and how the families live there in isolated conditions. Thank goodness for the modern times we live in now.

As I mentioned it's a must go on tour for you or a couple and the old 4wd bus that Paddy drove is great and reasonably comfortable for a bus that drives up and down the Spit on regular...

It is as bit of a drive but such a magical and beautiful place. The northernmost part of the south island is cape farewell. The whole in the rock is amazing, both sites, just a short walk from the parking spot.

A little further you can drive to a carpark from where you can walk to Wharariki beach, it is a bit long but the beautiful nature definitely makes up for that! And the walk is not very hard to do. Walking over the sand a bit brings you to a spot where you can find seals swimming/sunbathing/sleeping. Going back on the sea site some stunning views of the beach and ocean and when we were there, there were huts made of sticks, made for some nice photos.

We somehow mist the turn to farewell splitt, got there on the way back from wharariki beach. From sandy/stone beach walking up to the dunes.... just amazing, further in the dunes your suddenly surrounded by white sand everywhere, like your in a dessert. Was a bit of a surreal experience, loved it!

A tip if you want to stay here, don't stay at the holidaypark at Wharariki beach, way to overpriced for what you get. Can definitely reccomend Farewell gardens, is not very big so good to check if there are spaces available. Good facilities. On the other site of the road a great view...

What an amazing stop over whilst doing the tour out to the end of the Spit this is the Northern most point on the South Island. Seeing millions of years old fossils watch a great experience as well. The Tour guide was incredible his knowledge and talk during the entire tour was so informative with historical but especially geographical expertise, it had everyone on the bus attentive for the entire six hour tour. Plus Charles Meermans the driver-guide had some wonderful stories and antidotes mix in that was great as well. Charles has done a great deal of research over the years he has been involved that would make his knowledge base indispensable to the tour company. A real must do sometime in...