Lip smacking Collingwood Cockles

On the Pakawau flats in Golden Bay, the tide goes out a massive 6 kilometres to reveal vast glistening sand flats for as far as the eye can see. And there in the shimmering pools, I find the salty and succulent Littleneck Clams that us kiwis like to call cockles.

Between Collingwood and Farewell Spit is wonderful Pakawau Beach Camp right on the shore overlooking Golden Bay. Directly across the road on the Collingwood Puponga Main Road, is The Old School Cafe and Bar.

"I have fond memories as a child on family #summerholidays at the beach where we would gather cockles and eat until our hearts content. Those days are long gone and it has been many years since I had tasted the delectable delight of cockles, until our visit to Collingwood."

Thanks to the friendly locals that we met at the delightful Old School Cafe, who shared with us the best place to collect cockles. A short ride on our bicycles to just before the Pakawau Inlet Bridge, we ducked off the road and left our bikes in a clearing.

As we stepped onto the beach I was suddenly overawed by the vastness and isolation of these glistening sand flats, where the tide goes out a massive 6 kilometres and the mesmerising silvery tones, are spellbinding.

Far off into the distance I see the Abel Tasman National Park. There's no doubt these flats are a bird watchers paradise, the Oyster Catchers are steady at work catching a meal.

It doesn't take long to spot the bivalve mollusks in the shimmering pools. As I reached down and dug my fingers into the sand my heart swelled with excitement as I lifted out hand fulls of beautiful big cockles. I take just enough for my meal that evening, when I will eat them a la natural, and I can hardly contain myself at the thought.

There are only three places in New Zealand where cockles are commercially harvested; Whangarei, Otago, and here in the Tasman region where they have been farmed since 1984.

Maori have enjoyed harvesting and eating these salty and succulent cockles for hundreds of years, they are considered to be an absolute kiwi delicacy.

Reira he rite hari nui i roto i te haaputuputuraa rite i roto i te kai i runga i te tuangi.

There is as greater joy in the gathering, as in the feasting of cockles.