Perched on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island, Greymouth has a dramatic history of jade hunting, gold mining and flooding. Rich in its history of the gold rush and mining industry, this city is also home to abundant nature, especially birdlife. Grab your rental car and go on an epic adventure to explore Greymouth, New Zealand!
The history of gold mining can be explored at the local museum and nearby Shantytown Heritage Park. Located only 10km south of Greymouth, it is easily accessible by rental car. Shantytown has an in house steam train, sawmill and their very own Chinatown. Guests can enter and experience all these attractions and plunge into a long-forgotten historic scene. Caught the gold fever? Visitors can pan for their own gold. Especially popular with children, you can try your hand at panning in the sluice area or ponds. Don’t hesitate and try, because nuggets have been found before. Lady Luck may be smiling down on you!
Another stop over point to consider is the two-hour long Point Elizabeth Walk. Perfect for a road trip in a rental car around Greymouth, New Zealand, the Walk cuts through a scenic reserve and old gold mining sites. Get a taste of the glittering past of Greymouth through this excursion. Expect to be bombarded by beautiful flora and fauna as you trek through the vegetation. Best of all, the walk begins at Rapahoe Beach, which is a summer favourite of locals and tourists to cool off. Enjoy the crystal clear waters and sandy beach as you swim to your heart’s content.
All around town, visitors can discover the stories of jade hunting through galleries specializing in pounamu (New Zealand jade). Dotted all around Greymouth, it is convenient to visit by rental car. Appreciate the long history that jade hunting has in this town, and you can even purchase some pieces of jade at the end. The vibrant green rock is said to bring its wearer luck!
Feeling peckish? Visit local brewery Monteith’s. Something of a New Zealand legend, this brewery is a beer haven. With its award winning beers, rest assure that you’ll be beer-y happy at the end of the tasting tour. The tour allows guests to soak in the laidback ambience, understand brewing secrets and of course, drink all the beer you can hold. Psst, everything on their tapas menu is scrumptious. Located on Herbert Street in Greymouth, New Zealand, Monteith’s is easily accessible by rental car.
Due to Greymouth’s river mouth location, tourists can enjoy an almost year-round array of water activities. Guests can sea fish or fly fish, and then eat your own catch (fry it, it’s fantastic); or take on adventurous activities such as rafting or caving. Tours are widely available, so you can safely enjoy to your heart’s content.
Greymouth, New Zealand, is the perfect place to take your rental car and go on an exhilarating adventure. From its incredibly fascinating history dripping in gold and jade, along with great food and entertainment, this city is not to be missed!
