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National Parks & Marine Reserves

Westhaven (Te Ai Tapu) Inlet Marine Reserve and Wildlife Management Reserve

This unique reserve area totally protects all plant and animal life within its boundaries.

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Golden Bay and the South Island's northwest coast are renowned for their diverse and ancient landforms, endemic plants, abundant birdlife and outstanding scenery.

Westhaven (Whanganui Inlet) is part of this paradise. It is one of the largest and least modified estuaries in the country. An uninterrupted sequence of plant life, from forest to salt marsh, helps to maintain the estuary's overall health and supports a great diversity of life.

Much of the inlet is bordered by coastal forest, including kahikatea, pukatea, rata, beech, rimu and nikau palm. Eelgrass beds, salt marshes, tidal wetlands, dunes, cliffs, islands, rock platforms and underwater reefs are all found at Westhaven and are important habitats for a variety of species.

Approximately 30 species of marine fish use the inlet at some stage of their life history. It is an important breeding and nursery area for snapper, flatfish, kahawai and whitebait. Many fish enter the estuary to take advantage of the rich food supply found in the eelgrass beds and intertidal sandflats.

Westhaven is the second most important tidal area in the Nelson/Marlborough region for wading birds, particularly godwit, knot and oyster catcher. It is also the only site on the west coast of the South Island where the threatened banded rail finds a home.

To drive to Westhaven, follow the road from Collingwood to Farewell Spit, taking the left-hand fork just north of Pakawau. The wildlife management reserve is about six kilometres on, just beyond the turn off to Kaihoka Lakes. Continue on along Dry Road, which leads around the inlet to Mangarakau.

NELSON Region

Contact Details

Contact:	Department of Conservation
Phone:	3 5258 026
Fax:	3 5258 444
Postal:	P O Box 166, Takaka 7142
Website:	http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/po dcover.aspx?id=33791
Contact:	Golden Bay i-SITE Visitor Centre
Phone:	+64 3 5259 136
Fax:	+64 3 5259 288
Postal:	Willow Street Takaka
Email:
Website:	www.nelsonnz.com

Collingwood is the closest town to this highlight.

In Collingwood:

Other towns near Collingwood by road:

Takaka (23 minutes)
Kaiteriteri (79 minutes)
Motueka (82 minutes)

Other towns near Collingwood by rail:

Collingwood does not have any rail stations.

Other towns near Collingwood by air:

Collingwood does not have scheduled passenger air services.

The nearest airport is in Takaka (23 minutes)

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