Over 90 species of migratory birds including gannets, godwits and arctic waders can be found here each year, whilst playful seal pups and cheeky oystercatchers are drawn to its intriguing reserve.
Towering sand dunes provide hours of entertainment for those of all ages, although venturing further than the first 4km is only possible when on a guided tour. Other attractions along the spit include a gannet colony, wader watch area, lighthouse, Fossil Point and Cape Farewell.
Thousands arrive at Farewell Spit from the Northern Hemisphere every spring, after 12,km journeys from Siberia and Alaska. You can't blame them for seeking warmer Antipodean climes in the northern winter.
Farewell Spit isn't the only place in New Zealand where these migratory birds land, but it is the most protected. Godwits, red knots, Mongolian dotterels, wrybills, long-billed curlews, little whimbrels, and other birds with cute and fanciful names are just some of the dozens of species recorded here.
It's hard to overstate the ecological importance of Farewell Spit. Most of the spit is managed by the Department of Conservation, and it's more tightly controlled even than a national park, with public access restricted on all but the first 4km of the spit.
An 11,ha portion of the spit is designated as a Ramsar Wetland site, a wetland area deemed to be of international importance under Unesco's Ramsar Convention. It's also a Flyway Reserve Network Site—one of a chain of wetlands around the world that migrating birds stop at on their round-the-world journeys—and is on Unesco's World Heritage Site "tentative list", along with the nearby Kahurangi National Park, Te Waikoropupu Springs and the Canaan karst system.
In effect, Farewell Spit is a World Heritage Site "in waiting", and may be fully listed when certain conditions have been met. The area around the base of the spit, Wharariki Beach, and the Puponga Farm Park is open to visitors on foot. You're less likely to see the most protected bird species around here, but you're sure to see fur seals.
They breed around the caves, cliffs and rock pools of Wharariki Beach and can often be seen basking in the sun, both here and along the length of Farewell Spit. Maintain a safe distance, especially if there are seal pups around.
Also, keep an eye out for little blue penguins on the Archway Islands just offshore from Wharariki Beach binoculars are handy , and other birds around the Puponga Estuary, including white herons and royal spoonbills. Gannet colony. Gannet colony The Australasian Gannet colony, a short way past the lighthouse, is New Zealand's newest mainland gannet colony.
Wader Watch Area. Wader Watch Area The Wader Watch Area is an ideal spot to view birds like bar-tailed godwits, knots, turnstones and other arctic waders. Fossil Point. Fossil Point Fossil Point is a beautiful meeting place of ocean and land.
Cape Farewell. Welcome to Farewell Spit Tours Farewell Spit Nature Reserve is a bird sanctuary and wetland of international importance, being more strictly protected than a national park.
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