Sights in The West Coast
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‘Friends of the Hill’ Museum
North along SH67, the road is pressed against the rocky shoreline by verdant hills. The first town beyond Westport is Waimangaroa, where there’s a turn-off to Denniston, 9km inland and 600m above sea level. Denniston was once NZ’s largest coal producer, with 1500 residents in 1911. An information kiosk and the ‘Friends of the Hill’ museum here bring to life the harsh conditions experienced by the miners and their families. Four kilometres north of Waimangaroa is the Britannia Track (four hours return), winding towards the Britannia Battery’s gold-mining detritus.
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Jade Country Greymouth
Jade Country Greymouth has original jade jewellery costing from $30 to thousands of dollars. There’s a walk-through Jade Trail display on the precious pounamu, and the Jade Boulder Café serves organic coffee, whitebait and other ‘wild food’ that’s more difficult to catch.
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Shantytown
Providing context for West Coast history, Shantytown, 8km south of Greymouth and 3km inland from SH6, recreates an 1860s gold-mining town, complete with post office, pub and Rosie’s House of Ill Repute. There’s gold panning ($5 extra for adults), trains to ride, and a sawmill.
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National Kiwi Centre
The rather tired National Kiwi Centre has seen better days, but at least you’ll see a kiwi – peer into the dimly lit enclosure and see what’s rummaging about. There are also turtles, tuatara, and 150-year-old eels that get fed every day at 10am, noon and 3pm.
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West Coast Historical Museum
This Museum has old photos, Maori artefacts, river and pub-life displays, and the southern hemisphere’s biggest Meccano set (a gold dredge replica). The Mana Pounamu exhibition is the ideal primer before you hit the shops looking for greenstone treasures.
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Bearded Miner Company
You can have a chat with the guys at the Bearded Miner Company. Friendly bearded types will sit you down in a 1860s-style miners hut and give you a cup of billy tea. You might wonder why they haven’t formed a ZZ Top tribute band.
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Mitchell’s Gully Gold Mine
For a taste of the region’s old mining past, swing into Mitchell’s Gully Gold Mine, 22km south of Westport, with a tumbledown water wheel, old rail tracks and hillside tunnels (BYO torch).
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Coaltown Museum
The Coaltown Museum includes an interactive walk through a faux mine. Rusty mining artefacts sit beside a brewery, photographic displays and a huge operational steam dredge.
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Blacks Point Museum
The community-run Blacks Point Museum, 2km east of Reefton on the Christchurch road, is inside a former Methodist church and crammed with prospecting paraphernalia.
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Old Church
About 16km south of Ross, the Old Church stands remotely on the Kakapotahi River. Bikes, kayaks and fishing are on offer but BYO food as there’s no nearby shop.
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Stewart Nimmo Gallery
Not happy with your photos? Stewart Nimmo Gallery is the place to stock up on some pro shots of the stellar West Coast scenery.
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Left Bank Art Gallery
The Left Bank Art Gallery houses contemporary NZ jade carvings. Prints, paintings and photographs also get an airing.
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Golden Fleece Battery
Located up the Christchurch road is the still-functional Golden Fleece Battery, used for crushing gold-flecked quartz.
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Murchison Museum
This museum showcases local memorabilia, with vintage farm equipment and photos of the 1929 earthquake aftermath.
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Fox Glacier Lookout
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Sentinel Rock
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Roberts Point
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Peter's Pool
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Catholic Church
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Anglican Church of St james
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Alex Knob
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Lake Matheson
About 6km down Cook Flat Rd is the turn-off to Lake Matheson. It’s an hour’s walk around the lake, and at the far end (on a clear day) are improbably photogenic views of Mt Tasman and Mt Cook reflected in the water. Visit during the early morning or when the sun is low in the late afternoon.
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O
Glowworm Dell
Just north of town, a short stroll from SH6 leads to a Glowworm Dell. Evening darkness maximises the show.
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Gibson Quay Heritage Waterfront
Pick up the free Hokitika Heritage Walk leaflet from the i-SITE and wander the Gibson Quay Heritage Waterfront, imagining when the wharves were choked with old-time sailing ships.
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