Full trail overview

Check out the attractions in and around Greymouth. Journey to a Place of Legends at the Pounamu Pathway Mawhera Hub. Here Māori history and stories come together in a cultural experience through digital and immersive technology. Visit the town square. Drop into the Left Bank Art Gallery, catch the latest exhibition, the New Zealand Pounamu and Jade Collection and local artwork for sale in the gallery’s shop. Enjoy a little retail theory in the quality gift and fashion shops. Pick up those last minute bike repairs and accessories. The local cafes and restaurants are an ideal place to prep for your ride or celebrate the highlights once finished. For those that enjoy an ale, Monteith’s is a West Coast icon and riders can join the fully guided brewery tour, tasting tray or tapas style tasting menu.

Journey to a Place of Legends at the Pounamu Pathway Mawhera Pa where Māori history and stories come to life through digital and immersive technology in a cultural experience that is fun, surprising, creative, and unique to the West Coast/Te Tai o Poutini. Learn about the Māori legends, settlements, battles and taniwha (water guardians) that have formed this place of precious stone, ancient trade routes, and stunning landscapes.

Features include 1898 historic ‘S’ Howe truss bridge span, Signal Box, railway station, former the Government Building, Miners’ Memorial, Clocktower, cantilevered lookout, mining Q-wagons, buckets and drill sculptures, heritage wharf and deconstructed Rewanui mine bath house.

A trip out to the notorious Blaketown bar, that has seen the demise of 45 boats and the loss of numerous lives, is highly recommended.

Shantytown, one of the Coast’s leading cultural and heritage tourism attractions, is well worth the detour. Allow time to explore and take in the fascinating stories of real New Zealanders in this recreated gold-rush village. Visitors can ride the steam train, pan for gold, experience the sights and sounds of a working sawmill, catch a story in the 3D theatre and enjoy a beer and team photo old-n-day style or lunch at King Dick’s tearooms.

Over the Taramakau Bridge the trail then follows the former Greymouth-Kumara passenger and freight tramway, which operated from 1877 to 1893 passing alongside the relic fence. Created by locals from parts of machines and old rusting items from industrial and domestic history, this artwork spans several hundred meters and is a test for everyone to identify the features and an awakening of age for those who have used them.

Around 1.5m from Kumara, a signpost along the trail indicates a side trip to Londonderry Rock. Believed to be one of the largest rocks in the world at an estimated 3000 to 4000 tonnes, the 'glacial erratic' rock was carried by the huge glacier that extended down the valley in the ice age over 10,000 years ago. Local legend tells of it being dislodged during sluicing, with the resulting almighty thud stopping the post office clock.

One of the trail’s signature rides, the Kawhaka Pass follows the Southern Alps. Riders face a continuous gentle bush climb up to the Summit at 317 m at the north/south 56km mark. The dramatic mountain landscapes are breath-taking and move through from one impressive vista to the next, whilst riding along the great Alpine Fault line.

The view from this bridge into the river way below is exhilarating.

Whether riding up or cruising down these switchbacks the ride is fun and the views are impressive. There is a picnic table near to top to stop, refresh, take in the views and snap a photo.

Lake Kaniere offers picnic and swimming opportunities at Hans Bay, the Landing and Sunny Bight. The Lake Kaniere Scenic Reserve is recognised as one of this country’s highest value scenic reserves. With around twenty distinct types of forest covered with ferns and epiphytes, it is a haven for wildlife including many native bird species such as bellbirds, tui, tomtit, kereru (wood pigeon) and fantails. A gem in this section of the trail is the ride alongside the historic Kaniere Water Race that follows the hand dug tailraces built in the 1870s for the Kaniere Forks goldfields and later hydro-electricity generation.

Constructed to tackle an engineering challenge with the terrain, this fun little circular ride is the only spiral on a trail in New Zealand.

Built as the Goldfield’s Capital, Hokitika has been recognised as a Tohu Whenua Landmarks Site. The town is renowned for its wide variety of quality artists, great cafes, rugged beach and magic sunsets. Many of the heritage sites have been incorporated into an additional 7km Heritage cycling or walking trail around the perimeter of the town. Take some time and enjoy the town. The Westland Industrial Heritage Park’s Big Engine Shed sound and light show, Mudfish Bush railway rides and many other attractions are well worth a visit.

This attraction offers accommodation and eco cruises through the creek and wetlands following the original route used by pioneers, gold diggers and early explorers through native rainforests. A special feature is the view of kotuku, or white herons, that are usually plentiful between spring to late summer as wetland feeders that roost in the kahikatea trees in the evenings.

Recognised by the Department of Conservation as one of the highest quality wetlands in New Zealand, this area was created through the two great forces of the Hokitika glacier and Tasman Sea. The resulting swampy margins have proved perfect habitat for tall kahikatea, rimu and matai trees and have become home to a rich array of native fish and birds including kotuku (white heron). The wetlands are also an important spawning ground for whitebait. Remnants of the gold dredging and saw milling that took place around the creek can also be seen today.

Impressive vistas can be captured in an exhilarating adventure from high amongst the ancient rimu and kamahi canopy. Experience these rainforest giants and life with the birds along the 20 metres high, 450 metre long steel platform. This is a chance to try a Zipline experience from the top tower. The walkway is perfectly placed for a coffee or lunch break.

Don’t miss your photo in the photoframe adjacent the Ross Goldfields Information and Heritage Centre Carpark. Before completing your visit to Ross, drop into the Centre that presents the rich gold history of the town and try your hand at gold panning. Take the time to relax and enjoy the interpretation panels, walkways, historic church and restored features dating from the gold rushes.