Farewell Spit Eco Tours is a family-run business based in Collingwood, New Zealand, that offers a unique and unforgettable experience for nature lovers and bird enthusiasts.
Farewell Spit is a nature reserve and bird sanctuary, and the longest sand spit in the country, located at the northernmost tip of New Zealand's South Island. The Spit is around 35km long, and public access is restricted to the first 4km. Vehicle access is only allowed for supervised tours by concession holders.
The Farewell Spit Tour is the most popular tour offered by Farewell Spit Eco Tours, and it departs from Collingwood and visits Cape Farewell, the South Island’s most northern point, and Fossil Point. The tour also includes a visit to the historic lighthouse and the Gannet Colony at the tip of the Spit. The tour is six hours long and is conducted on a four-wheel-drive bus along Farewell Spit, a 27-kilometre-long strip of sand running west to east from the north-western tip of New Zealand’s South Island. The tour provides opportunities to visit the lighthouse near the end of the Spit, check out the fossil site, and climb a sand dune. The tour puts on tea/coffee and a muffin at the lighthouse, but it’s a long day, so it might be worth packing some extra food. The tour is conducted by experienced and knowledgeable guides, such as Anton, who was extremely knowledgeable about the area and the people who lived there.
Farewell Spit Nature Reserve is a bird sanctuary and wetland of international importance, being more strictly protected than a national park. The Spit is a key part of the physical environment, and Farewell Spit Eco Tours strives to help preserve its prime natural setting. The tour duration is 5 1/2 hours, and visitors can experience the changing landscapes, seascapes, and skies as they journey in purpose-built 4wd buses to a place where nature is still in charge. Farewell Spit Eco Tours is a must-visit for anyone who loves nature and wants to experience the beauty of New Zealand's South Island. Visitors can explore the intriguing reserve, view the historic lighthouse, and learn about the area's unique ecosystem.
The Abel Tasman National Park is also a great place to get out and explore, tramp or kayak. It’s natural walking tracks and untouched waterways are spectacular. The beach is a great place to slow down, get away and relax. Abel Tasman is the smallest National Park in NZ, but still covers 22,350ha of land. It would be hard to imagine a more perfect piece of coastline - clear turquoise waters, golden beaches, rocky headlands, lush native forest, and all kinds of interesting wildlife. Farewell Spit Eco Tour departs from Collingwood near the Station House Motel and takes guests, by bus, to the reserve entrance. The buses are unique, designed to provide a comfortable and safe ride for visitors. The tour is an excellent opportunity to learn about the area's history, geology, and ecology, and to see some of New Zealand's most beautiful and unique wildlife.