Only on the ‘Coast

1. Beachcombing or fossicking for pounamu

Not found anywhere else in New Zealand, precious pounamu — New Zealand greenstone or jade — washes down from the mountains carried by the waters of just a handful of West Coast rivers. While it’s not permitted to just rock up and take greenstone from these rivers, you may pick up a precious pebble or two on a wild West Coast beach.

In Māori legend, pounamu has a treasured spiritual significance. The South Island was originally named Te Wāhi Pounamu (the place of pounamu), but over time this name evolved into Te Wai Pounamu (the greenstone waters). Today, natural reserves of the precious stone are under Māori tribal protection.

If you find a nice piece, you could turn it into a precious keepsake with some help from a local artist or master carver. Bonz N Stonz, in Hokitika, and Te Koha Aotearoa, at Franz Josef, are artist galleries offering hands-on carving classes. Learn about the significance of carving and pounamu in Māori culture, then design and carve your own piece to take home.

3. Walk back in time — Honeycomb Hill, Oparara Arches

Walk with the dinosaurs back into prehistory on a guided tour into Honeycomb Hill, a 13km cave system where prehistoric creatures once roamed, and now home to the largest, most varied collection of sub fossil bird bones ever found in New Zealand.

This unique corner of Kahurangi National Park, near Karamea on the West Coast’s northern corner, lay undisturbed for a million years until cavers rediscovered the complex honeycomb of limestone passages and caverns. Among the secrets revealed in the dark passages are the skeletal remains of nine species of extinct moa and the giant Haast’s eagle (hokioi) that were trapped inside in ancient times and fossilized over time.

Access into this DOC-designated Specially Protected Area is limited to approved guided tours (book at the Karamea Information Centre). The 16km 4WD expedition takes about 2.5 hours to complete but it’s suitable for anyone of moderate fitness who doesn’t mind some easy scrambling around the rocks in the dark. Highlights on the guided experience include glowworm caverns, a walk through the rainforest (often accompanied by inquisitive South Island robins) and home-baked refreshments.

5. Adventure on ice — Franz Josef Glacier & Fox Glacier heli hiking

If you want to try TripAdvisor’s #1 ‘World’s Best Out of the Ordinary Experience’, then head to the glaciers and Fox Glacier Guiding will give you an experience to remember — one of the most accessible ice experiences outside of the Himalayas.

Out of more than 60 glaciers in Westland Tai Poutini National Park, Franz Josef and Fox are the easiest to get to and the most accessible because they extend almost to sea level and close to the small tourist towns of the same names. It’s not surprising then that this region has New Zealand’s most thrilling selection of helicopter flights and landings on the ice.

Along with all the appropriate gear which is supplied by the guiding company, you’ll just need moderate fitness and agility to enjoy the hike across the glacier, an exhilarating alpine experience exploring the luminous blues of the ice caves, deep crevasses and impressive pinnacles of ice.

6. Seek your fortune — Fossicking for gold

Gold was first discovered on the West Coast in 1864, starting a gold rush that saw Hokitika become a boom town with 72 pubs. They moved on when the easy pickings were gone but modern fortune seekers equipped with the appropriate tools can still try their luck in nine golden locations designated for recreational gold fossicking.

For complete amateurs there’s the opportunity to get in some gold-panning lessons while learning about the ‘Coast’s gold mining heritage with the Bearded Miners — a trio of ex-miners and blacksmiths — in Reefton. Hear about the prospecting life of old, and try your hand at gold panning.

You can also roll up your sleeves at the sluice line in Shantytown Heritage Park, near Greymouth. It’s cold, wet work but typically rewarded with some golden flakes of the genuine stuff.

The Ross Goldfields Information & Heritage Centre is a one-stop spot for gold mining history and regional information.

Designated public areas where you can fossick for gold: https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/things-to-do/gold-fossicking/

8. Stay over in a ghost town — Waiuta

Wander deserted streets and overnight amongst the ghosts of riches past in a Tohu Whenua DOC heritage site. Once a bustling mining town of 600 residents, Waiuta — on a winding hill road halfway between Greymouth and Reefton — has remained deserted since 1951 when the mining company locked the doors on the West Coast’s largest gold mine.

No one lives here any more but you can stay with the ghosts in DoC’s Waiuta Lodge.

Waiuta was the location of New Zealand’s third biggest mine, and the West Coast’s largest producer of gold — a total of nearly 750,000 ounces of gold (an equivalent value today of NZ$1.6 billion).