East Tākaka is the farming valley that runs inland from Tākaka township toward the foot of Takaka Hill — ten minutes from the supermarket and a world away from the beach settlements. This is marble country: bush-covered hills, the Tākaka River, fog lifting off the paddocks in the morning, and birdsong instead of traffic. It is also the first place you reach once you have come down off the hill.
1 home in East Takaka · Golden Bay, Tasman
Ten minutes to Tākaka township, and the first valley you reach coming down Takaka Hill
Bottom of the Rameka Track, the classic Takaka Hill mountain-bike descent
Rawhiti Cave, with its phototropic stalactites growing toward the light, is up Packard Road
Paynes Ford climbing crag and river swimming holes are about five minutes away
Farm-and-bush setting: no through traffic, big skies, tūī and bellbirds at dawn
Discover the serene beauty of Totara Glen Farmhouse, an idyllic retreat offering peace and tranquility, all just a mere ten-minute journey from the bustling town and inviting beaches. This charming farmhouse is cradled by lush farmlands, set against the spectacular backdrop of mountains, part of the Kahurangi National Park. These majestic peaks, frequently adorned with snow, create a breathtaking panorama. Bordering Totara Glen Farm is the East Takaka river, with a dedicated mountain bike trail tracing its path. This scenic route concludes in Takaka township, a delightful 30-minute ride away.
The home we look after here is a farmhouse that sleeps ten, which makes East Tākaka the obvious pick for reunions, milestone birthdays and groups who would rather have one kitchen and one long table than three baches spread across a beach. Guests write about the space and the silence — kids running loose in the paddocks, cooking at home every night, not seeing another car all day.
It is also the mountain-biking end of the valley. The Rameka Track drops off Takaka Hill into East Tākaka and is one of the oldest and best-loved descents in the country, and the Rawhiti Cave track starts at the end of Packard Road just up the valley. Paynes Ford — Golden Bay's main climbing crag, with swimming holes in the river below it — is about five minutes away on the road back into town.
Pōhara is about twenty minutes and Tata Beach about twenty-five. You are inland here, and the trade-off is space, quiet and paddocks instead of a shared beach access.
Is East Tākaka suitable for a large group?
It is one of the best options in Golden Bay for one. The farmhouse sleeps ten, and because the nearest neighbours are paddocks away it is a far easier fit for a noisy family week than a bach in the middle of a beach settlement.
What is there to do nearby?
The Rawhiti Cave track is a steep 45-minute climb from the end of Packard Road to one of the most spectacular cave entrances in New Zealand. Paynes Ford has climbing and river swimming, the Rameka is on the doorstep for riders, and Te Waikoropupū Springs is about twenty minutes away through town.
Do we need a four-wheel drive?
No. East Tākaka Road is sealed, and a normal car is fine for getting to the house. A few of the side roads to trailheads are gravel and can be rutted after heavy rain, so take those slowly.
