If you have yet to wander onto the fish hook that's pinned to the top of the South Island, you really are missing out. Because this arc of sand is really something quite spectacular.Extending eastward into the Tasman Sea, it's not some boring old bit of beach poking out from a solid land mass. Rather, this 35 kilometre spit is the longest natural sandbar in the world.Located just out of Collingwood in Golden Bay, Nelson, the spit's Maori name is Onetahua which translates as "heaped up sand".And heaped it is. Its huge dunes form a coastal barrier that protects an important staging area for migratory shore birds. A total of 83 species of wetland birds have been recorded at the spit, which is also a breeding ground for colonies of Australasian gannet. This significant location is now protected and considered a Wetland of International Importance.But, it's not just birds who hang out here. The isolated historic lighthouse near the end of the Spit, has an interesting history. The walls of the lighthouse are graced with an insight into how the lighthouse families survived in this extremely isolated spot and you’ll learn much about the location's maritime history.
Farewell Spit - Onetahua - Nature reserve is a bird sanctuary and wetland of international importance. The spit is around 35km long and public access is restricted to the first 4km. Farewell Spit is more strictly protected than a national park. Vehicle access is granted only to supervised tours. Through sharing the experience of Farewell Spit we can help to raise public awareness of this precious ecosystem, so vital for migratory birds. "Onetahua" is the Maori name for Farewell Spit and translated means "heaped up sand". Onetahua is also the name chosen for the Golden Bay Marae which was established in the 1980s.
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