Takaka in Nelson

A mature female Hector's dolphin was discovered dead in Fiordland's Milford Sound. Takaka is in the Nelson Tasman area, at the southern end of Golden Bay. It's a town full of personality, with a community that includes many alternative lifestylers. There's a small museum, a movie theater, and plenty of stores and cafés to choose from. Backpacker lodges, bed and breakfasts, and homestays are all available in the town for a reasonable price. Takaka is a nice place to stock up on supplies if you're planning a hike in Kahurangi National Park. Te Waikoropup Springs, New Zealand's largest freshwater springs, and an art trail that will reveal the region's inventiveness are also nearby.

At Waikoropupu, near Takaka in the Nelson Province, more than 21 million liters of pure water emerge from the ground every 24 hours from fractures in the limestone. Locals refer to the spring as 'Pupu Springs,' and it is the Southern Hemisphere's largest coldwater spring system. Agriculture and sawmills are also popular in this mineral-rich community. Here is one of the things about New Zealand you should know when coming to this country.