Parapara is a scatter of houses on the coast road between Tākaka and Collingwood, looking out over Parapara Inlet and the long sweep of Golden Bay toward Farewell Spit. It is twenty minutes from Tākaka and ten from Collingwood, with a beach, an estuary full of wading birds and very little else. If your idea of a holiday involves a book, a deck and no neighbours, this is the stretch of coast to look at.
2 homes in Parapara · Golden Bay, Tasman
Halfway along the coast road: Tākaka 20 minutes one way, Collingwood 10 the other
Parapara Inlet — warm, shallow water on a rising tide and wading birds on a falling one
Open views across Golden Bay to Farewell Spit
No streetlights, so the Milky Way shows on any clear night
About 45 minutes to Wharariki Beach and the Farewell Spit tour departures
Welcome to our stunning Parapara retreat, where breathtaking views await. Our modern interior ensures a luxurious stay, with two bedrooms to accommodate you. Nestled amidst lush bushland, you'll have access to multiple scenic tracks right outside your door, while the beach is just a short drive away. Embrace the perfect blend of nature and comfort for an unforgettable getaway.
Just a stone’s throw from the golden sands of Parapara Beach, this welcoming holiday home is the perfect base for a relaxing Golden Bay getaway. Surrounded by a spacious and beautifully kept garden, it offers a peaceful setting for couples, families, or small groups. Sleeping up to six guests, it’s ideal for those wanting to slow down, soak up the sunshine, and enjoy the laid-back coastal lifestyle.
Both of our Parapara homes look out over the water — one from the beachfront, one from up in the bush on the hill — and that view is generally why people book. It suits couples and small families who want to swim, walk and read, then drive to whatever takes their fancy: Wharariki Beach and the Farewell Spit tours are about forty-five minutes north, Te Waikoropupū Springs and the Tākaka cafés twenty minutes south.
The inlet is the local secret. On a rising tide it fills fast and turns into a warm, shallow swimming hole; on a falling one it becomes a bird table — oystercatchers, herons and, from spring through summer, godwits feeding on the flats. Bring binoculars, and bring repellent: the estuary edge earns its sandflies at dawn and dusk in still weather.
No. Collingwood, ten minutes north, has a general store, fuel and a couple of places to eat; Tākaka, twenty minutes south, has the supermarket and pharmacy. Most guests do one shop on the way in and top up in Collingwood.
Can you swim at Parapara?
Yes, and it is best around high tide. The beach and the inlet both drain to sandflats on a big low, so aim for the two or three hours either side of high water when the incoming tide has warmed over the sand.
What birds will we see on the inlet?
Variable oystercatchers, white-faced herons, pied stilts and shags are there most of the year, and bar-tailed godwits feed on the flats through the warmer months before flying north. Golden Bay and Farewell Spit sit on one of the great shorebird migrations, and Parapara is a quiet front-row seat for it.
How dark does it get at night?
Properly dark. There is no street lighting on this part of the coast road and very little traffic after dinner, so on a clear night you can pick out the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds from the deck.
