New Zealand Travel Guide

  Westport is situated on the North side of the West Coast, a coastal town built beside the mouth of the Buller River, and founded in 1861. This friendly town has wonderful local guides to talk you through the history of the Great Gold Rush era and New Zealand’s Black Gold (coal) mining days while taking you to historical landmarks and buildings. Experience a simulated underground coal mine; learn of the brave immigrants who came to work this rugged landscape at the Coal-town Museum. Many café’s and award winning restaurants have local fare freshly available for visitors looking to sample Pacific Rim cuisine. Head out of town and into the lush native bush where horse riding and trekking, rafting, caving, tramping, kayaking and Jet boating will have you amongst some of the world’s most beautiful scenery.

Greymouth is the largest town on the West Coast, located beside the Tasman Sea and the Grey River. Greymouth has an endless array of activities in this adventure play-land. Here you can Heli-raft, white water raft, river, lake and sea fish, canoe or kayak, indulge in cave exploration amongst lime formations, horse trek and 4WD farm bike through coastal flax and scrubland. And after exhausting yourself on thrill seeking adventures, Greymouth offers up guided tours, gold panning in Alpine rivers, found in historic gold mining areas, dolphin watching tours, take a Brewery visit and quench your thirst, and learn more about the process of brewing from your friendly host, visit the replicated mining town, Shantytown, set in the 1860’s; hop aboard the steam train while there, visit the art galleries in town and take a look at knife-makers, glassblowers, carvers specialising in the intricate artwork of Pounamu (New Zealand Jade), and various artists at work. Stroll along the quayside and enjo