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greymouth
 The
‘Coasters’ as the people of the West Coast are commonly
known, are renowned for their independence, hospitality and
strong community spirit.
Greymouth, the largest town on the Coast, reflects this
character. The town was spawned by the gold rush, nurtured by
timber and coal, and shaped by the Grey River and numerous
floods.
Coming here is an adventure in itself. The Coast has a ‘Last
Frontier’ feel because of its relative isolation and extreme
topography. It is a land of spectacular coastlines, dense
rainforests, rushing rivers, snow-capped peaks, limestone
formations and brooding lakes.
Your exploration can start with ‘The Great Wall Walk’
along the river stopbank to a windswept beach, strewn with
coloured pebbles and greenstone chips. At the Jade Gallery in
town you can observe the intricate cutting, grinding and
polishing of greenstone. The local Museum and Art Gallery are
worth a visit and there are excellent restaurants, cafés and
shops. The well-preserved railway station is a busy terminal for
the renowned TranzAlpine railway excursion.
Walking opportunities abound on the outskirts of town, and many
historic gold trails lead to ghost towns further up the Grey
Valley. A surprising number of rusting relics from 150 years of
gold, timber and coal extraction, are scattered throughout the
bush. If you’re lucky you won’t meet ‘The
Barber’, a wind that whistles down the Grey Valley with icy
tentacles as sharp as a barber’s razor.
Visitors to Greymouth seeking thrills and spills will not be
disappointed. There are many local adventures and eco-tours
including rafting the Taipo River and Taniwha Cave system.
Another highlight is jet boating along the coast to the amazing
Punakaiki Pancake Rocks with dolphin and seal watching en route.
A visit to Shantytown, 20 minutes south of Greymouth, brings to
life its pioneering past. This reconstruction of an 1880’s
gold town has many replica buildings in a colonial setting. A
steam train takes you through the bush to a sawmill and mine
site, and you can try you hand at gold panning at a working
claim.
Greymouth is the perfect base for you to experience the natural
beauty of the West Coast, and enjoy the ‘Coasters’
legendary hospitality.
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