I’ll admit that on my first trip to Greymouth, I didn’t think it was very memorable. It took a second visit to scratch under the surface and discover some of the area’s hidden gems. What we found on that second trip really blew us away; from waterfalls you can swim under and old gold mining tunnels you can explore independently, to secret glow worm colonies, a hidden canyon and lots of amazing coastal views.
You can also delve into the area’s coal mining history and try some of the excellent craft beer at the local brewery.
Here are all the things you shouldn’t miss when visiting Greymouth.
Things to do in Greymouth and the surrounds
1. Take a dip at Coal Creek Falls
Coal Creek Falls is a beautiful little waterfall which cascades into a deep swimming hole at the base. The water is pretty icy year round, but it’s guaranteed to leave you feeling invigorated!
Even if you don’t fancy a dip, it’s well worth taking the easy 3.4km return forest trail to sit and relax beside the falls.
It takes you through a lovely stretch of forest on a well maintained path, which holds up even after the typical West Coast downpours.
You can read our full guide to Coal Creek Falls here.
2. Explore the old gold mining tunnels
The Woods Creek Track is a delightful (and easy) 1.2km circuit trail through glorious mossy forest, taking you in and out of deep dark gold mining tunnels.
You will even spot a few glow worms twinkling on the ceiling if you venture far enough into the tunnels.
The walk is easy, but does involve some stairs, and you’ll need a torch to light your way in the darkness if you plan on venturing beyond where the natural light penetrates the tunnels.
Further along the trail you’ll find a jangly old swing bridge and a section of track which heads through a cleft in the cliff walls that feels almost canyon-esque.
It’s such a fun walk, with lots to see every step of the way. It feels like an adventure, whilst still being easy enough for young children to enjoy.
The last couple of kilometres of the road to the trailhead is gravel, but it’s well maintained and you don’t need any special kind of clearance (at time of writing).
3. Discover the secret glow worm colony
Just a short 15 minute drive from the centre of Greymouth, lies several old forgotten mine shafts.
Nature has begun to reclaim the mines, covering them in ferns and moss, making them look like something out of a fairytale. It’s at night when the mine reveals its bioluminescent secret and the scene becomes even more magical.
It’s an enchanting place to stand and watch as darkness falls, and all the little twinkling blue glow worms cover the shafts like Christmas lights.
What makes it even better is that you will probably get it all to yourself, despite the fact it’s only a two minute walk!
We have the full details on how to find the glow worms, as well as several other nearby spots in this post.
4. Step back in time at the Brunner Mine Site
The Brunner Mine Site is like an open air museum and you are able to independently explore the ruins of the old coal mine, which was in use between the 1860s and 1940s.
Your visit begins with the tragic story of the 1896 disaster, in which 65 miners were killed in an explosion. It was sobering to read how there wasn’t a family in the area that wasn’t affected and that many families were left relying on the charity of others.
The 550m loop walking trail takes you to various historical sites which have more information panels to explain how each area was used. Part of the walk follows the river and the strong smell of sulphur adds to stories in bringing the area to life.
It’s an easy walk, but you don’t have to do the whole thing to get a good feel for the place (just head left instead of right from the undercover shelter with all the information panels at the start of the site to shorten it. You can also walk a longer 2km circuit).
5. Catch a sunset from Shipwreck Point
The Greymouth bar is a notorious stretch of water, which even on a relatively calm day, has absolutely gigantic waves. It’s mesmerising to sit and watch as the waves roll in and crash against the rocks.
We visited on a relatively placid day and the waves were still hugely impressive. It’s the kind of place where you can sit, relax and let your mind wander.
It’s at its most picturesque during sunset, and it’s very peaceful to watch as the sun slowly sinks into the sea. There are two viewing platforms: the northern breakwater (Shipwreck Point) and the southern breakwater.
We opted for Shipwreck Point as it was less busy, but if you have a clear day, then you might want to pick the southern breakwater, as you would get an uninterrupted view of the mountains from there.
6. Paddle the mirror like waterways of Mahinepua Creek
Paddling along the stunning waterways of Mahinepua Creek is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. You’ll want to pick a calm day, so that you get to experience the gorgeous reflections of the various trees and plants in the water.
It was so serene gliding through the creek and watching as the sky and the water merge into one.
You can kayak all the way to Lake Mahinepua, which on a clear day has amazing views of Aoraki Mount Cook and the surrounding Southern Alps. We didn’t get lucky unfortunately, as even though it was clear over the creek, clouds were obscuring the mountains.
To be honest, the creek was so beautiful that the mountains would have been the icing on the cake, rather than the reason to make the trip.
It took us a little under two hours to kayak to the lake and back, but you could extend the trip by paddling around the lake too.
We rented our kayak from West Coast Scenic Waterways who were fab. We were given a four hour time slot (but told we could go longer as no one booked after us) and all the gear we needed.
7. Enjoy a tasting at the local brewery
If you’ve spent much time on the West Coast, you’ll probably have come across Monteith's beers in various bars and restaurants.
Greymouth offers the opportunity to go right to the source and do a tasting at the brewery itself.
It’s a great vibe inside, with high ceilings and a fireplace for cooler evenings. You can either choose to do a proper tasting by ordering a paddle - with 3-6 different beers - or just pick a few glasses. You can also do a guided tour around the brewery which finishes with a tasting.
I went for their cider and Joe the Summer Ales, and we can definitely recommend both.
9. Admire the gorgeous Carew Falls
Carew Falls is another gorgeous West Coast waterfall, located right beside Lake Brunner. The water cascades over huge granite boulders, creating lots of little pools where you can take a paddle.
It’s a fabulous spot to sit and relax whilst dipping your feet in the cool water.
The 1.8km return walk to get there is on a well maintained track, which winds its way up through a lovely stretch of forest. It’s an easy walk, although it is uphill a fair amount of the way.
As the walk is accessed from the western shore of the lake, it does require navigating 13km of dirt road when driving from Kumara.
The road is windy at points, but well graded and suitable for any vehicle (at time of writing).
10. Check out the amazing sea stacks of Motukiekie Beach
The mysterious sea stacks of Motukiekie Beach were one of the things I was most looking forward to seeing on our trip to Greymouth.
It’s also the spot where you can see the amazing bright orange starfish, that are exposed on the rock shelves during low tide.
Unfortunately for us, our visit did not go as planned. Even at low tide, it was too high for us to cross the rock shelves and reach the sea stacks and starfish.
We must have visited when even low tide was still pretty high. We did see a lovely sunset from as far along the beach as we could get, which did make up for it a little! Hopefully your visit will be more successful.
There are two access points for the beach (neither are signposted), with the easiest being from the lay-by (coordinates -42.314815, 171.279637). Park here and then head a couple of minutes along the road in the direction of Punakaiki.
You’ll see a rocky ‘path’ (it’s more rock than path) down to the beach. It only takes a couple of minutes and then you’ll be on the sand.
Head left and follow the beach all the way along until you reach the rocky platforms. We walked for 1km before the tides stopped us going any further.
11. Adventure into the hidden canyon
Few people realise that just down the road from Greymouth lies the spectacular Ford Creek Chasm.
In the right conditions, this incredible canyon can be visited independently and is one of the best adventures you can have in the area.
Although the distance to reach the canyon is extremely short at just 1km return, once you leave the formed track, you’ll be walking in water the whole way.
It’s not overly difficult, but does involve scrambling and you definitely don’t want to do it if the water level is high, or rain is forecast. It’s definitely a canyon walk, not a hike, so you need to be prepared.
If the weather is in your favour, wading through water between the looming canyon walls is an experience you won’t forget.
The coordinates for where to park are: -42.359637,171.404653
You then follow the path downhill and right. Head along the grassy trail and look for the opening down into the water. There’s a small rope to help you down. Once in the water turn left and begin making your way through the river, past the cascades and into the canyon. Watch out for old mining debris in the water.
12. Marvel at the electric blue water of Hokitika Gorge
Hokitika Gorge is a 55 minute drive from Greymouth, and it seems like an understatement to say that the drive is worth it! It’s easily one of the most beautiful spots in New Zealand to view some of that classic blue glacial water.
The 2km loop walk around the gorge takes you past several fantastic viewpoints and over two picturesque swing bridges.
As long as you luck out with good conditions, it will probably be some of the most spectacular water you have ever seen in your life. The walk is both easy, and pretty in its own right, taking you through pristine forest.
All of our tips for visiting the gorge, including the best conditions for photography are in this post.
If you prefer spots which are less well known, it’s a little further from Greymouth, but here’s an absolutely mesmerising blue water gorge that hardly anyone visits!
13. Wander the unique formations of Pancake Rocks
The Punakaiki Pancake Rocks are one of the most famous attractions on the West Coast and are easily accessible from Greymouth.
The scenery is incredible, with strangely shaped limestone rock formations, which have been slowly eroded by the wild weather.
I’ve visited many times and my favourite is on a wild and windy day, when the waves are dramatic and the spray from the water being pushed out the caverns surges high into the air.
In terms of blowholes, I’ve personally never experienced the crazy spray that you see in some photos, despite visiting at high tide, but it doesn’t really matter because the whole area is incredible anyway.
For your best chance at seeing the blowholes at their best, come at high tide when there is a south-westerly swell.
The 1.1km loop walking track around the rocks is easy, it’s mainly flat, with just a few steps here and there.
14. Explore Punakaiki Cavern by day and by night!
The Punakaiki Cavern is a fun limestone cave which you can explore without a guide. Wandering into the dark chambers and listening to the sound of the waves crashing against the nearby shore is incredibly atmospheric.
It’s easy to access - just a few steps from the main road - and then you have 150m of cave passages to discover. It’s an easy walk, although it can get a little muddy, so wear good shoes.
If you’re feeling adventurous, return after dark to see the cave in a whole new light! You’ll find the ceiling glitters with glow worms once the sun goes down.
You can read all the details on visiting the cave by day and by night in this post.
15. Take a stroll to the spectacular Truman Beach
Truman Beach in the Paparoa National Park is spectacular and even has a waterfall that cascades straight onto the sand!
It’s a breathtaking sight and is equally as pretty on a wild and windswept day as it is in the sunshine.
Unfortunately for us access to the beach itself wasn’t possible due to rockfall, but it looks like it’s re-opened now. It’s very much worth the visit regardless, as the viewpoint for the beach is glorious.
The 1.8km return walk to get there is both easy and stunning, taking you through native subtropical forest with plenty of those iconic nikau palms.
It’s very close to the Pancake Rocks and Punakaiki Cavern, so it makes sense to do all three in one go.
16. Enjoy the magnificent view from the Strongman Mine Memorial
The Strongman Mine Memorial is dedicated to the 19 men that lost their lives during a gas explosion in 1967. The memorial is located in a beautiful spot, high on the cliff tops overlooking a wild West Coast beach.
Although it marks a tragic accident, it’s a peaceful spot to visit and offers the chance to stop and look at some of the breathtaking scenery that you’d otherwise only get to enjoy from your car.
If you feel inclined to linger there are a couple of picnic benches.
The memorial is located directly on route to Punakaiki, so it makes sense to combine it with a visit to Paparoa National Park.
17. Learn about the area’s gold mining history
A visit to Shantytown allows you to explore the recreation of an old gold mining village. Wander the buildings learning stories from the gold rush era, pan for gold, ride the old steam train and take short strolls through the surrounding rainforest.
There’s even a hologram theatre and area where you can dress up in traditional costumes.
I visited Shantytown on my first visit to Greymouth and planned to check it out on our most recent trip to see if it had changed, but ended up running out of time.
I think kids will love it, adults may be just as happy wandering the Brunner Mine Site mentioned above, which is free of charge, whereas an adult ticket for Shantytown is currently NZD $36.
The one that got away
Marvel at snow-capped mountains from the coastal walkway
The 5.5km (one way) Point Elizabeth Walkway offers the chance not only to enjoy some of the West Coast’s best coastal views, but also the glorious snow-capped mountains of the Southern Alps. Along the way there are picturesque sea stacks and coastal forest, as well as several historical sites.
There are some ups and downs, but it’s generally an easy walk on a well maintained track.
It was sadly closed on our visit due to a landslide, but it’s since re-opened and on our list for next time!
Where to stay in Greymouth
Oak Lodge
We stayed in the one bedroom cottage at Oak Lodge and really enjoyed our stay. We were greeted with fresh eggs from the owners hens which is always a good start! The cottage is small, but has everything you need including a full kitchen with oven. There’s also a washing machine and a good powerful shower. There are more facilities onsite, such as a sauna that we sadly never managed to use as we kept finding more things to do in the area!
You can check out the reviews and prices on Booking.com by clicking below:
Goldfield Suites
The other place we’d been considering was Goldfield Suites. The rooms look cute and cosy and there’s a kitchenette with two ring stove. It has a few added luxuries like a pillow menu and coffee machine. There’s also a cedar hot tub in the garden.
You can check out the reviews and prices on Booking.com by clicking below:
Getting to Greymouth
Greymouth is located on the West Coast of the South Island. It’s just over a two hour drive from Franz Josef and just over three hours from Christchurch. You could also arrive in style on the TranzAlpine train, which travels from Christchurch to Greymouth via Arthurs Pass and is said to be the most spectacular train journey in New Zealand - it’s very much on my bucket list!
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