NATURAL WORLD
Located at the mouth of the Grey River, Greymouth is the largest
town on the West Coast of the South
Island. To the north are the famous Pancake Rocks and Paparoa
National Park. Southeast of town is Lake Brunner.
In May 1988, the Grey River surged over its banks and flooded the
town. Four months later flooding happened again. Nearly two dozen
floods had wrought havoc since the 1860s. A wall was constructed,
not very attractive but effective.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
Greymouth was once the site of the Maori pa (fortified village)
called Mawhera which means 'wide spread river mouth.'
CULTURAL WORLD
The history of gold mining is recounted at a museum in Shantytown,
11 kilometers south of town. A faithfully recreated town of the
1860s, Shantytown recounts the story of the hardy immigrants who
arrived to take part in the Gold Rush. The museum includes steam
train rides and opportunities to pan for gold.
The Monteiths Brewery runs
tours that include a tasting session.
SPORTS
Rugby Park is the home of West Coast Rugby Football Union. Matches
are played on Saturdays. Field hockey is very popular.
HISTORY
Explorer Thomas Brunner named the river to honor Sir
George Edward Grey, the Governor of New Zealand at the time.
The town was declared a borough on July 16, 1868.
NEARBY
South of Greymouth is the town of Hokitika ('Hoki' for short),
the original hub of the 1860s Gold Rush. The annual Wildfoods
Festival (held in March) is world famous. Hokitika has a thriving
artisan community, and the area is now internationally renowned
as a creative arts center and famous for its jade
(also known as greenstone or in Maori pounamu).
Also nearby is the Cape Foulwind Walkway runs along the cliff tops
from the lighthouse at Cape Foulwind to Tauranga Bay. Highlights
include views of the Seal Colony, home to hundreds of fur seals.
Midway between Greymouth and Westport is Punakaiki and the Paparoa
National Park. The site is famous for its Pancake Rocks, weathered
limestone and a classic kiwi icon that attracts more than 400,000
visitors each year. When the tide is right, the ocean enters the
caverns and hurls upward through blowholes.
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