Farewell Spit Visitor Centre and Café

The gateway to Farewell Spit, at Puponga near the northern tip of the South Island. The centre has displays on the spit's wildlife and history, and the café has great food and a view out over the spit and the tidal flats of Golden Bay.

Several walks start here. You can walk out along the inner beach of the spit for up to about 2.5 km (the rest is only accessible on a guided tour), and the Hilltop and Fossil Point walks lead over to the wild ocean beach. Farewell Spit is a wetland of international importance and a bird sanctuary, so keep to the permitted area. Wharariki Beach is just around the corner.