4 minute read
Explore the wild West Coast
Nature in its Element
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Inhabitants gave up trying to tame the unruly West Coast long ago. When its bounty of gold, coal and timber were discovered the area quickly prospered, but its flurry of fortune never eclipsed the real riches of the west – its weatherworn beauty. The gold peddlers have long gone, but the wild, natural treasures of this region remain.
Explore ancient limestone cliffs, glowworm caves and old bush tramways in Charleston, see the Pancake Rocks and the mighty blowholes at Punakāiki, or enjoy the Coal Creek Falls Walkway as you immerse yourself in the history of Rūnanga, where old mining roots still run deep.
The West Coast has more protected land than any other part of New Zealand. In fact, the Haast region is so special that UNESCO have named it a World Heritage Area.
The Coast is sparsely populated, allowing visitors to find space far from the crowds. Enjoy the remoteness and explore some of the world’s most accessible glaciers.
Those keen to get off the beaten track will revel in isolated townships such as Granity, Hector and Ngākawau. The latter are bijou settlements sitting at the mouth of the Ngākawau River. Fittingly, Hector’s dolphins often frequent the shoreline and in Ngākawau, the Charming Creek Walkway leads to Seddonville.
Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki
West Coast Tourism
UNDEREXPLORED BULLER DISTRICT
Standing watch over the Tasman Sea, Buller District spans from Punakaiki in the south through to its largest town, Westport, and over to Karamea, Kahurangi National Park and the gold town of Reefton. Its rugged landscape doesn't seek the limelight with the same tenacity as other places in the South Island. But its under-discovered isolation, complete with the region's proud coal and gold-mining history are its greatest drawcards.
EXPLORE THE OPARARA BASIN’S LIMESTONE ARCHES AND CAVES IN PRISTINE FOREST AND THE GOLD-MINING HERITAGE OF THE FENIAN AREA.
Oparara Arches, Karamea
West Coast Tourism
Remarkable Punakāiki
The Punakāiki Pancake Rocks in Paparoa National Park are – as the name suggests – a formation of rocks that resemble stacked pancakes. Forged 30 million years ago, they formed when dead marine creatures accumulated on the seabed, compressed and then transformed into several layers of limestone; eventually nudging their way to the surface. Today, the pancakes are joined by erupting blowholes and a ferocious surge pool named the Devil’s Cauldron. Stone steps and boardwalks lead you to the best viewing spots and the pathway has wheelchair access to most features.
Punakāiki Pancake Rocks
West Coast Tourism
Westport
Cape Foulwind, Westport
Miles Holden
Situated where the mighty life Buller River meets the sea, Westport was first a gold town and then a coal town.
Embrace the past and try your luck at gold panning and then head to the coast to fossick for semi-precious beaches.
The town itself offers an eclectic mix of art and crafts, antiques, collectibles and jewellery. The Coaltown Museum tells the stories of the pioneers who battled to make a life in this challenging environment. Check out the Whitebait Festival if you’re here in October.
Westport also offers the full repertoire of outdoor activities, including jet boating, quad biking, horse-trekking, scenic kayaking, a range of mountain biking tracks, surfing at Tauranga Bay and North Beach and fishing.
The excellent Charming Creek Walkway, 25 minutes drive north, combines scenery and history along an old railway line.
WORTH STOPPING FOR...
SPRINGS JUNCTION - Three main mountain passes connect the West Coast to the east: Lewis Pass, Arthur’s Pass and Haast Pass. A great stop off when traversing Lewis Pass is Springs Junction. Framed by forests and lakes, awesome walks are plentiful here.
MARUIA SPRINGS - These naturally heated, therapeutic thermal pools are 45 minutes south-east of Reefton.
CHARLESTON - Deep in Paparoa National Park, rock climbing, black-water rafting, caving and abseiling will put you in a good place to admire waterfalls, limestone boulders, streams and glowworms.
Reefton GLOWS !
As the first town in the southern hemisphere with access to electricity, gaining its title as ‘The Town of Light’ in 1888, Reefton shines bright.
You can visit the first electric-powered street light by heading to Bridge St where an old lamp flickers across Oddfellows Hall. However, the Reefton folk, not content with one lightbulb, soon ensured that they became the world’s fifth settlement to distribute power to the public. Embark on the 40-minute looped Bottled Lightning Powerhouse Walk for a peek into this revolutionary past. A maze of additional tracks once tramped by gold miners are still maintained and used by both cyclists and walkers.
Electricity is not all that shines here, and the monikers have come thick and fast: once known as Quartzopolis, the town was also renowned for its gold mining.
For all things gold-related, visit the famed Bearded Miners. Entry by donation is all you need to strike up a conversation with these hairy-chinned fellows. They know everything there is to know about precious metals and will even show you how to pan for your own.
