Collingwood is a town in the north-west corner of the South Island of New Zealand.

Geography

The town lies at the end of State Highway 80 in Golden Bay. As it is close to Kahurangi National Park, and the closest town to Farewell Spit, it is a ecotourism destination, although it is in an isolated location away from major tourist routes.

History

The town was named for Admiral Collingwood, an associate of Lord Nelson, and was proposed as the capital of New Zealand in the 1800's. A small goldrush caused a rapid but brief rise in population in 1857. The town was substantially damaged by a major fire in 1904.