LOCAL CHAT

Aidan Schurr, General Manager at Underworld Adventures, Charleston has lived overseas for almost 20 years and coming back to the West Coast has been a metaphorical and literal breath of fresh air.

‘It’s through the eyes of our visitors that we get an appreciation for just how special and unique the natural environment is here,’ says Aidan. ‘There’s really nowhere else in the country you can see quite the combination of dramatic landscapes, prolific wildlife and lush subtropical rainforest.’

Underworld Adventure

© Pat Wall / Richard Rossiter, Underworld Adventure, Charleston

WHERE WOULD YOU TAKE A VISITOR YOU’RE TRYING TO IMPRESS? I love to ‘wow’ visitors by sharing some of our amazing food. Westport certainly impresses there. During the day,it’s all about our spectacular views, so it’s a road trip to Cape Foulwind, Charleston (including the amazing Nile River Canyon where our cave tours are based)and on to Punakāiki, making sure to allow plenty of time for frequent photo stops!

Underworld Adventure, Charleston

© Pat Wall / Richard Rossiter, Underworld Adventure, Charleston

WHAT IS A GREAT PLACE FOR FAMILIES TO CHECK OUT? You can’t go past a stunning bike or walk along part of the new Kawatiri Coastal Trail from Cape Foulwind to the Seal Colony and Tauranga Bay. They’ll see everything from rolling farmland to mature forest, coastal cliffs and more. They’re finishing off more and more sections of this incredible trail as we speak, and it’s due to be fully completed in mid-2023. Once done, it will be a family-friendly Grade 2 trail, spanning 55km from Westport to the goldfields of Charleston and beyond.

Underworld Adventure, Charleston

© Pat Wall / Richard Rossiter, Underworld Adventure, Charleston

THE PERFECT SPOT TO SIP YOUR COFFEE AND ADMIRE THE VIEW IS... Well, I might be a little bit biased in this, but I’d say the views from our café here in Charleston are pretty stunning!

WHERE IS A PLACE RICH IN LOCAL HISTORY? The tiny settlement of Denniston, near Westport, sits over 500 metres above the Tasman Sea. This spectacular location was host to what was once dubbed the ‘eighth wonder of the world’: a 1670-metre long incline coal railway with a gradient of nearly 45° in places. The reconstructions and interpretation boards up there offer a fantastic insight into life on the Denniston Plateau. It’s a place I love to revisit with my kids, and well worth the drive.

Underworld Adventure, Charleston

© Pat Wall / Richard Rossiter, Underworld Adventure, Charleston