Farewell Spit is the longest natural sandbar in the world. Maori people named the spit Onetahua, meaning 'heaped up sand' - the long sandbar stretches out 35km from the very tip of the South Island of New Zealand. Click here to view Location Map.
The geography is unique, the history is fascinating, but it is the birds that give Farewell Spit it's world-wide fame.
A sanctuary since the 1930's, the Spit is now returning to its indigenous covering including cabbage trees, kanuka, mahoe and rushes. Habitats range from open mudflats to sand dunes - ever-changing with winds and tides - providing homes for over 90 species of bird, most importantly the waders.
Farewell Spit is more strictly protected than a National Park. Vehicle access is granted only to supervised tours. Through sharing the experience of Farewell Spit we can help raise public awareness of this precious ecosystem, so vital for migratory birds.
