History & heritage

Reefton

Reefton, on the Lewis Pass road and near Victoria Conservation Park (NZ's largest), is well worth a stop and its claim to fame is an illuminating one – in 1888 it was the first town in the Southern Hemisphere to have electric streetlights!

Hokitika

Enjoy freedom kayaking or a cruise aboard the Eco Adventurer. Capture the picturesque beauty of the Mahinapua waterways along the original route used by pioneers, gold diggers and early explorers.

Westport and Karamea

Once a leading coal mining town, Denniston sits high on a steep incline railway once described as the eight wonder of the world.

Punakaiki

Book in to support and volunteer at our Punakaiki Coastal Restoration Project with Conservation Volunteers New Zealand. With your help, we are restoring the Sand Plain Forest and planting 170,000 trees on 75 hectares.

Westport and Karamea

Coaltown is a museum dedicated to telling the stories of the pioneers who battled our rugged environment in search of a better life.

Hokitika

A gallery and carving studio filled with handmade jade pieces. Bonz 'N' Stonz is the authentic location to purchase professionally created jade, bone, and shell jewelry. You also have the option to carve your own Jade - Bone -Shell.

Grey District

The gallery is housed in the former Bank of New Zealand. The main gallery and vault spaces display regular exhibits of contemporary New Zealand paintings, prints, photography, sculpture and crafts, with an emphasis on local content.

Reefton

Learn about the gold, timber, coal, Maori and aviation history of the West Coast at the many heritage sites on the West Coast.

Hokitika

A small community owned and operated centre.

Westport and Karamea

The 85km-long Old Ghost Road traverses majestic native forest, open tussock tops, river flats and forgotten valleys, providing days of adventure and spectacular huts for mountain bikers and trampers.

Haast

Learn about the gold, timber, coal, Maori and aviation history of the West Coast at the many heritage sites on the West Coast.

Grey District

New Zealands' worst mining distaster happened on 26 March 1896 at Brunner on the West Coast, killing 65 men.

Hokitika

The Hokitika Museum is a regional museum located in the heart of Westland and housed in the historic Carnegie Building.

Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier

Built in 1926 for the Paganini family, Holly Homestad is a historic bed and breakfast located in Franz Josef.

Grey District

Observe and participate in some great New Zealand stories and explore the heart of the nation at Shantytown. Engaging, interactive activities in a heritage setting.

Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier

Lighting of the beacons that run along The White Mountains (Ered Nimrais) from Gondor to Rohan was filmed at Mount Gunn, near Franz Josef, West Coast.

Hokitika

This fabulous uniquely original tour will lead you on a journey of discovery along the Arahura River - known as one of the richest sources of Pounamu (Greenstone) in New Zealand.