Cape Farewell

Cape Farewell was named by Captain Cook as he left New Zealand to return to England.  It was the last bit of land to see as he sailed away to the north west. 

Our destination today was Cape Farewell stables for our adventure to Cape Farewell and the Farewell Spit. Farewell Spit is a narrow sand spit at the northern end of the Golden Bay, South Island of New Zealand. Known to the Māori as Tuhuroa, it runs eastwards from Cape Farewell, the island's northernmost point. It is located about 50 kilometres north of Takaka and 20 kilometers from Collingwood.  It forms the northern side of Golden Bay and is the longest sandspit in New Zealand.

Our English trail guides were Charlotte, who had been leading trail rides for 20 years and Wade, a young man there to "settle" one of the new horses. They were very personable and full of information about the horses, the local flora, fauna, and geology.  Their horses are retired or perhaps, unsuccessful race horses from the hackney curcuit. I rode Bungle and Tom road Arnie - very English names. 

We decided to take the Old Man Trail, which shows you the unusual rock formation that looks like a mans face. We road by a pasture of widely diverse types and colors of cows - all dairy.  Then we cut through a meadow full of ewes and frolicking lambs.  

It also gave us an amazing view of the Farewell Spit, the 25 mile sand bard stretching to the east. It was such a clear day that we could also see the snow capped Mount Taranaki on the North Island across the Cook Strait. There were amazing views of the sea and rocky stone faces.  There were huge calla lilies growing wild making it look like things had been especially decorated for us. 


We saw a light beacon on a peak that was a radar station for New Zealand during World War II when they were very afraid on an invasion from Japan.       

The Old Man ridge

The Australian stock saddle

The lighthouse

Riding above the Farewell Spit