Takaka, New Zealand

Takaka is a small town with about 1,149 inhabitants ( as of 2006) and is located in the Tasman in the north of the South Island of New Zealand.

The town, which was founded in 1854, is located in the southeast of Golden Bay and is situated on the lower reaches of the Takaka River. The proximity to the Abel Tasman National Park and a lively arts and crafts scene Takaka make it a popular destination for tourists. The nearby coastline on the Golden Bay offers good conditions for windsurfing. The economy of the area is characterized apart from tourism by farms, sawmills and mining of limestone.

State Highway 60 over the 791 m high Takaka Hill, with its numerous caves provides a connection to the Tasman Bay to the southeast.