This is about Golden Bay in New Zealand. For other uses, see Golden Bay (disambiguation).

Golden Bay is the name of a bay and a district at the northern end of New Zealand's South Island. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island.

Golden Bay (bay)

Farewell Spit and the long curve of Golden Bay dominate this satellite image (composite Landsat image)

Golden Bay lies at the edge of the junction between the Tasman Sea and Cook Strait. The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, some 2000 Kilometres (1250 Miles across Cook Strait is a Strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It stretches for 45 kilometres from the long sand spit of Farewell Spit in the north to Separation Point in Abel Tasman National Park at its southern extremity. A spit is a deposition Landform found off Coasts. At one end spits connect to land while at the far end they exist in open water Farewell Spit is a narrow sand spit situated at, at the northern end of the South Island of New Zealand. Abel Tasman Beyond this point, the larger of the two bays at the top of the South Island, Tasman Bay, begins. Tasman Bay is a large V-shaped bay at the north end of New Zealand 's South Island.

The northern part of the bay is largely devoid of population; the southern part contains the populous but small plains around the mouth of the Takaka River. The Takaka River lies in the northwest of New Zealand 's South Island. Between the two lies the small town of Collingwood. Collingwood is a town in the north-west corner of the South Island of New Zealand. Other than the Takaka River, the Aorere River is the main watercourse to reach the sea at Golden Bay.

Abel Tasman entering the bay

Dutch explorer Abel Tasman anchored in this bay in 1642. Abel Janszoon Tasman ( 1603 - October 10 1659) was a Dutch seafarer, explorer, and Merchant. However, the resulting hostile encounter with the local Māori when a party from his ships tried to land caused him to bestow upon it the name Murderers Bay. English explorer James Cook renamed it Golden Bay during his voyage of discovery in 1769. Captain James Cook FRS RN ( – 14 February 1779) was an English Explorer, Navigator and Year 1769 ( MDCCLXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a

Golden Bay (district)

Location of Golden Bay

The Golden Bay district, at the northwest corner of the South Island, New Zealand, and about 70 kilometres northwest of Nelson, is a coastal area bordered by the ranges of Kahurangi National Park and Abel Tasman National Park. The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island History Early settlement Settlement of Nelson began about 1100 years ago by Māori Kahurangi National Abel Tasman It is largely separated from the rest of the island by steep hill country—the only road into the area traverses a steep, winding pass between the Riwaka and Takaka River valleys. The Riwaka River is located in the northwest of New Zealand 's South Island.

One of many beaches in Abel Tasman National Park along Golden Bay

The population of approximately 4500 triples over summer with an influx of visitors, who enjoy its natural beauty, recreational opportunities and festival culture. Golden Bay's popularity also stems in part for its remoteness and its internationally significant conservation areas, such as Farewell Spit and Te Waikoropupu Springs. Farewell Spit is a narrow sand spit situated at, at the northern end of the South Island of New Zealand. The Te Waikoropupu Springs ('Pupu Springs' are located in Golden Bay, on New Zealand's South Island. It is also noted for its extensive cave systems. A cave is a natural underground void large enough for a human to enter

The ranges, rivers, coastal plains and lowlands of Golden Bay provide a range of microclimates offering good conditions for agriculture and horticulture. Currently, the Bay's main income is generated by dairy farming, arts and crafts, and tourism.

Recently, a massive increase in the wasp population in Abel Tasman National park forced a (failed) biological and a (more successful) chemical regimen to bring down the wasp population which reached an estimated 300 colonies per square kilometre in the early 1990's. A wasp is any Insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a Bee nor Ant. These wasps have been blamed on an alarming decrease in native insects and animal life in the park.

Takaka is the main business and shopping area for the Golden Bay district. Takaka is a small town situated at the southeastern end of Golden Bay, at the northern end of New Zealand 's South Island, located on the lower reaches of It is located in the lower reaches of the Takaka River Valley at the southern end of the bay. Collingwood is Golden Bay's second biggest town and was once a candidate for the site of the nation's capital, though today it principly act as a service hub for the surrounding farming community and a destination for holiday makers during the summer month. Collingwood is a town in the north-west corner of the South Island of New Zealand. Other settlements in Golden Bay include Pohara, Motupipi, Onekaka, Bainham and Pakawau. Onekaka is a small coastal community in Golden Bay, at the northwestern tip of the South Island New Zealand with a population of around 250