Things To Do In Greymouth

1. Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

On the Great Coast Road, there are numerous fun and free things to see that make the long drive worth it. Between Greymouth and Westport, the Great Coast Road is a lovely drive, but most visitors will enjoy a half-day trek to the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks. A sealed 20-minute circular walk immediately off the highway leads to the seaside attraction with pancake-shaped limestone formations. If you want to view the finest blowhole displays, go while the tide is high. Stop through Motukiekie or Rapahoe Beach on your way back.

2. The Hokitika Gorge

Hokitika, a former gold mining town, is the principal tourism center on the West Coast, embracing a wild and rugged stretch of coastline with clear views over the peaks of the Southern Alps to the east. It's a hub for pounamu (New Zealand greenstone) manufacture, with a slew of boutiques displaying a wide range of pounamu jewelry and carvings, as well as a slew of other local artisan shops.

Lake Kaniere, just outside of town, offers excellent swimming and boating options, while Hokitika Gorge, with its azure water and deep native forest, makes for excellent half-day walks.

3. The Left Bank Art Gallery

If you've had enough of the treks and mining sites, visit the Left Bank Art Gallery for something a bit different! This free art exhibition shows modern New Zealand paintings, photography, sculptures, and crafts inside the towering architecture of a former Bank of New Zealand building. Pounamu art can also be seen here. Browse the gift store for handcrafted textiles, jewelry, jade, antique pendants, and carvings to take home as a one-of-a-kind remembrance.

4. Woods Creek Track

Check out some of the wonderful walking routes to learn more about Greymouth's mining heritage that is being reclaimed by nature. The Woods Creek Track is a highlight, a 45-minute circle that passes through natural woodland and includes trail races, dams, and tunnels. This stroll may be found on the way to the Shantytown Heritage Park, a reasonably priced attraction and replica of a gold-rush town. Between the Floodwall Walkway and Breakwater Tiphead, as well as the waterfall at Coal Creek Falls, there are plenty of other treks to enjoy in Greymouth.

5. Brunner Mine Site

Greymouth has a number of noteworthy historical landmarks that highlight the town's rich coal and gold mining history. The Brunner Mine Site, approximately inland from Greymouth, is a well-known attraction. A short walking track with several interpretive panels here explains the tale of one of the country's first industrial coal mining sites, as well as the ruins of a coke furnace, tunnel, and brick factory.

6. Rapahoe Beach

Rapahoe Beach, while part of the Point Elizabeth Walkway, is a stand-alone destination that you may visit by car if you want. This beautiful beach, backed by cliffs, is a great spot to see the sunset on the West Coast or just stop by on your way through Greymouth. On weekends during the summer, the beach is monitored for swimming so you can relax in the waves!

7. Point Elizabeth Walkway

You're in New Zealand, so you're certain to want to see some spectacular landscape, right? Landscapes for photographing abound in Greymouth, particularly along the Point Elizabeth Walkway. As you travel through coastal woodland to a rocky overlook with views of the Southern Alps, take in the coastline vistas of the untamed West Coast. The trip takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes one way, but a return trek to the viewpoint is an excellent option for doing the whole thing.

8. Lake Brunner

Inland from Greymouth is a hidden treasure that few West Coast visitors are aware of. Lake Brunner is a magnificent sight in the foothills of the Southern Alps, sculpted by glacier carving. A half-hour drive from Greymouth will bring you to the lakeside community of Moana, where you'll discover a variety of short treks to enjoy the scenery. You may also just have a picnic by the lake if you're wanting a more low-key day!

9. Glow Worm Cave Tour

Have a wonderful, gorgeous adventure within the Ananui Glow Worm Caves, full with historical legends and beauty. Discover the natural splendor of this Cave's Wonderland. The ancient tubes we journey through are part of one of New Zealand's greatest cave systems, full with stalagmites and stalagmites. It's a return stroll out of the Cave tunnels once you've visited the Main Entrance, where you'll see an amazing display of Glow Worms. The best part about this trip is that you get to see the formations twice! Return to the lovely Café in Charleston via our adorable small jungle trains for a hot cup of coffee and lunch with our amazing café staff.

10. Underworld Rafting

This award-winning Underworld Rafting excursion will take you on a spectacular journey of discovery through the Ananui GlowWorm Caves. In the historic upper levels of the huge Ananui GlowWorm Cave system, discover an untamed calcite paradise of stalactites and stalagmites. Then enjoy tubing on the pristine Waitakere / Nile River while floating among fantastic galaxies of GlowWorms. In the Underworld Adventure Center in Charleston, return on the Rainforest Train to a hot shower and their friendly Café'.