Discover the Vibrant Aorere Wetlands
Located west of the Aorere River mouth near Collingwood in Golden Bay, the Aorere Wetlands are a captivating natural area. Even during a rainstorm, the wetlands display a striking palette of greens, golds, and oranges, making it a visually stunning destination.
Destruction and Recovery
The Aorere River Valley was dominated by kahikatea swamp forests, flax-rich wetlands, and seasonal estuarine zones when Europeans first arrived. Much of the valley was drained or cleared for agriculture over the past 150 years. Despite this, about 30% of the original wetlands survive in the Aorere catchment, and the wetlands near the mouth of the Aorere River have become a focus for conservation. Community-led restoration efforts, such as the award-winning Aorere River Project, have helped reconnect fragmented habitats, improve water quality, and protect threatened bird and fish species.
Capturing the Scenery
If you're inspired to capture the vibrant wetlands, you can safely pull over near the bridge that connects the Collingwood Puponga Main Road to Collingwood Bainham Main Road. This spot provides an excellent vantage point for photography.
How to Get There
From Takaka, head north on State Highway 60 to Collingwood. At the end of the highway, turn left onto Bainham Main Road and drive 500 metres to the intersection with Collingwood Puponga Main Road. The Aorere Wetlands are right there.
Other places to visit nearby include the Mussel Inn, Salisbury Falls, and Cape Farewell.
