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Greymouth
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Blackball
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Punakaiki
Greymouth
Accommodation
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Beaches and Walks
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Things to do
Greymouth is the largest commercial town on the West
Coast and makes a good base when touring the coast.
The coast is full of both European history and Maori
heritage. The first explorers were the Maori searching for
greenstone – pounamu or nephrite jade. The West Coast is the only
place where this rock is to be found.
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Europeans arrived in the 1860s when gold fever struck
the region. Shantytown, which is a replica of an 1860s gold
mining town, is a good place for your family to discover how things
were back in those early mining days.
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With its backdrop of the Southern Alps, the West
Coast is ideal for those who enjoy nature at her best. Greymouth is
the terminal for the TranzAlpine rail journey across the Southern
Alps from Christchurch, one of the world’s great rail journeys.
Alternatively,
you
may prefer to take a drive to Punakaiki to see the Pancake
Rocks and Blowholes.
You can get here
by coachlines or shuttle services that operate from
Nelson,
Queenstown,
Picton
and
Christchurch or you can take
your car and take in some of the beautiful scenery on the way.
A note here for
swimmers and fishers: the coast is dangerous for the inexperienced
and caution is advised at all times.
Beaches
and walks
Grand Jeans Creek Walk
is a short walk, about 10 minutes, overlooking the creek. For a sea
view, try the
Lions Walk.
It is a gentle climb to the top and takes about 10 minutes, or take
a walk beside the lagoon and through the kowhai forest on the
Kowhai Bush Walk.
This is another short walk. For the older children, there is the
Greymouth
skateboarding park.
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Things
to do
- Adventure Activities
- On Yer Bike, State Highway
6, Coal Creek,
Greymouth. Ph: 03 762
7438 Web:
www.onyerbike.co.nz
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- Shantytown, Rutherglen Road, Greymouth. Ph: 03 762
6634 Web:
www.shantytown.co.nz
- An authentic 1860's Gold Mining Town.
More than thirty buildings, with steam train rides,
and gold panning.
Wild West Adventure Company,
8 Whall Street, Greymouth. Ph 03 768 6648
www.fun-nz.com
White Water rafting,
tube riding, glow worms and tours
- Little Earth Model Village, 511 State Highway 6, 5km north of Greymouth.
Ph: 03 7627438
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For emergencies requiring
Police,
Fire or Ambulance - Dial 111
For non-emergencies:
Police: 45-47 Guinness Street, Greymouth.
Ph: 03
768 1600
Pharmacies: Olsens Pharmacy Ltd, 50 Albert Mall, Greymouth.
Ph: 03 768 4075
Blackball
Twenty-five minutes inland from Greymouth is the
small village of Blackball. Like most of the towns on the West
Coast, Blackball was, at first, a base for those seeking gold.
However, in 1893, the community became established with the opening
of the coal mine, although coal mining in this region proved to be
anything but easy sailing.
Although now famous more for its salami and hotel
than its militant coal miners’ union, a visit to this town is an
interesting outing. And what about that coal miners’ union? It
was best known for its 1903 Crib Time strike, which lasted three
months. If you think we have it bad in our work places today,
imagine striking — against the law in 1903 — to
increase your lunch hour from 15 minutes to 30 minutes! By the way,
the workers were awarded 80 minutes by the judge! Mining ceased in
the area in 1964, as it was no longer financially viable.
- Punakaiki
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Punakaiki is 45km north of Greymouth and is the home
of the famous Pancake Rocks and Blowholes and Paparoa National Park
which covers about 30,000 hectares of land from native rainforest to
mountain tops and rugged coastline. Take a walk out to Dolomite
Point and watch the blowholes. Remember to take special care with
children while visiting the rocks. |
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Make sure you have a full tank of petrol, as Punakaiki does
not have a refuelling station. The Pancake Rocks were formed
from limestone some 30 million years ago. These were then
overlaid with layers of mud and clay. Finally, over time,
due to earthquakes and the pounding of the sea, the rocks
have emerged in their present-day form.
Accommodation in Punakaiki
Looking for family-friendly
accommodation in Punakaiki?
Click here to find accommodation for your family. |
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