So when the body is trashed or the weather packs it in, everybody likes to have some options for alternative entertainment- after all, you can't climb ALL the time... can you..?? Anyway, Golden Bay definitely has a lot to offer to anybody out there, and the climbing is just the start of it.
Please remember that any information given here is APPROXIMATE and should be double checked from other sources before venturing out.

Walking: Like climbing, coffee shops and Chewwie dog's flea's, there is no shortage of superb walks to be found in the Golden Bay/ Nelson region. Anything from the easy 1 hour stroll to 10 days+ of sub-alpine adventure. Most of it is either in or around one of the 3 close by National Parks, so you can always be sure of the quality of the scenery. And the sandflies.
Some great names to look out for are: The Heaphy Track, the Abel Tasman Coastal Track, The Cobb Valley, Wainui Falls, Wharariki Circuit Track, Wharawharangi and Gibbs Hill.
Check the isite or the Department of Conservation office in Takaka for more info.

Biking: Like the rest of New Zealand, the roads around Golden Bay aren't well suited to cyclists, being quite narrow and (in summer) having a huge amount of traffic zipping along them. If you can ignore this though, there are some nice rides. Out past Pohara to Wainui Beach, from Takaka to the Pupu Springs (clearest water in the world), and maybe even up to the Cobb Reservoir if you're a total machine.
Mountain Biking is definitely a-go in the Bay with some great terrain around, but the National Parks are legally off limits. Some great tracks are the Rameka Track from the top of the Takaka Hill, Birds Clearing Track and the Killdevil Track.
The Quiet Revolution Cycle shop in Takaka is your one-stop-shop for all the info you need.

Kayaking: From charging grade 4+ whitewaters down to cruisy grade 2, then out on to the ocean for some truly scenic paddling, the region may not be well known for its Kayaking, but it's got it.
Whitewater: The rivers here are typical for NZ- steep. At low flows there's not a lot you can do with them and they tend to be bony, but after a good rain there are some choice pickings. Here's a few options:
-Takaka River from Cobb Powerstation: Grade 4 - 4+ at high flow. Easy car access.
-Anatoki River from Rainbow Valley: Grade 3 - 3+ at moderate flow. Easy car access.
-Waingaro: Private property access from Hamama Rd, or Helicopter access. Short stretch from top of Hamama Rd is grade 2 - 3, a Helicopter will give you a 2-3 hour run of grade 4 & 5 madness down the upper valley.

Fishing: It's definitely possible (and popular), but buggered if I know anything about it though.

Internet Cafes: These are coming up like popcorn around Takaka so you shouldn't have any problem getting on line. The Aubergine Cafe does Internet, coffee and food; Unlimited Copies, PC Solutions, Gazebo Backpackers and the public Library are all hooked up with pretty quick machines, and wireless can be found at the Library and the Wholemeal Cafe.

Food and Beverage: What holiday town would be complete without a menagerie of places to eat and drink? Takaka has a veritable circus of them, many running on the organic, green and healthy theme.

Highly recommended: For some great quality Golden Bay culture and good times, it's recommended to visit both The Mussel Inn and The Naked Possum at least 17 times each during your stay.
The Mussel Inn: An unforgettable English country style pub and micro-brewery, it is known around NZ and half the globe for an unbeatable atmosphere. With indoor and outdoor seating; big, yummy, organic meals; a plethora of unique and professionally home brewed beverages including several award winners; as well as regular entertainment: live international music acts, quiz nights, poetry nights and locals nights. Can't recommend it enough, and its great for kids. Found in Onekaka, 15 minutes drive on the road from Takaka to Collingwood.
The Naked Possum: A beautiful, original and interesting approach to dining out, The Naked Possum is a restaurant/ bush cafe specializing in wild game foods: locally shot pork, goat, venison and fowl all feature regularly on their interesting menu. They also have a tannery next door for tanning possum hides, out of which they create some amazing items. An outdoor fireplace with seating and regular live music and entertainment make it another must. Found in Kaituna, past Collingwood and Rockville- its easiest to get directions when you're heading there.

Musicing: As small as Golden Bay is, it has an impressive music scene thrumming away- especially over the summer. Folk, rock, world, techno/ house/ trance, drum n bass and much more can easily be found during any given week of the summer period, from the extremely talented local producers to many internationally acclaimed acts.
Venues- Recommended venue's to keep an eye on are: The Brigand Cafe and Bar, The River Inn, The Wholemeal Cafe, The Mussel Inn and The Naked Possum. These last two are frequently on the list of NZ's funkier touring acts, and are quite often hosting a wide variety of international acts.
Parties- Some regular annual parties/ festivals are: Canaan Downs Festival (3 days, new years), Luminate Festival (3 days, midsummer), Onekaka Bash (1 day, community piss-up), and of course Hangdog's notorious Christmas Day Hippie-Hoedown. For more info on raves and dance parties, Invisible in Takaka is the place to ask.

Swimming: Baldric's definition of Sea: "Big blue wobbly thing that mermaids live in". Our wobbly things might not be quite so big, or have many mermaids, but they are certainly blue and are usually very refreshing.
Beaches- In GB, it's often easier to find a beach without anyone on it than an occupied one. Taupo Point and Doctor's Bay are in or near the Abel Tasman and are picture perfect and very quiet. Ligar Bay and Onekaka are closer, often a bit busier, but well worth the try, while Kaihoka and Wharariki on the west coast are wild, vast and enormously fun.
Rivers- Generally you don't need to go further from Hangdog than the 1 minute walk across the highway to the "High Rocks" swimming hole in the Takaka River where you'll find great swimming, bouldering and 10 metre cliff jumps. We definitely recommend a few others though: The Devils Boots on the Aorere is clean, cold and only locally known. The Parapara River past the Mussel Inn has a couple of great spots, and is a great stop off on the way back from the west coast. The Wainui River is a great place to take a gang of peeps and a picnic, and enjoy sun warmed boulders and numerous private swimming holes.