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Takaka is the hub of, and largest town in, Golden Bay, in the northwest corner of the South Island of New Zealand.

It has a great groovy-granola vibe supplemented with a liberal (in more ways than one) sprinkling of people from around the world who stumbled across this little piece of hidden Nirvana on earth.

Agriculture and tourism are the main industries in Golden Bay, so the economy is fairly seasonal.

[edit] Get in

Just over the Takaka Hill from Nelson. (Which probably explains its undiscovered nature.)

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

• Farewell Spit Lighthouse - Take a 4WD tour along Farewell Spit to the historic lighthouse on the tip.
• Waikoropupu Springs - The home of the clearest water in the world. Feed the tame eels and visit the salmon farm.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Whole Meal Cafe, 60 Commercial St, Takaka, ☎ +64 3 525 9426. Small cafe with a number of organic and vegetarian offerings.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Bay Country Lodge@Pohara, ☎ +64 3 525 9438 (info@baycountrylodge.com).  edit
• The Sandcastle. 6 self-contained chalets set in a peaceful gardens and native bush. A spa, sauna, and cold dip are available at this relaxing facility conveniently situated between Takaka and the Totaranui beach.  edit
• Pohara Beach Top 10 Holiday Park, 809 Abel Tasman Drive, Pohara, RD1 Takaka, ☎ +64 3 525 9500 (toll free: 0800 764 272, pohara@xtra.co.nz, fax: +64 3 525 8689), [1]. Beachfront location. Accommodation options include power and tent sites, comfortable, fully equipped standard and kitchen cabins, fully serviced motel units, self-contained units and ensuite cabins. Access facilities available. Qualmark 4 Star plus Holiday Park. $34 - $155.  edit

[edit] Get out

• Onekaka - Where the finest beer (Monkey Puzzle) and some of the tastiest grub can be found at the Mussel Inn[2], about 17 miles past Takaka towards Collingwood (great beach). Great place do do a little drinking, eating, making friends and listening to music. There's a glow-worm trail across the way that's just lovely to wander through once you've had a few.