Reefton walks
Reefton walks
Beyond Reefton’s charming heritage buildings, lies the largest forest park in Aotearoa New Zealand. Here you can follow in the footsteps of prospectors past, traversing tram lines, pack tracks and ghost towns — in what was once the booming centre of quartz reef gold mining.
Some walks start from Broadway, Reefton’s main street, others require a short drive into the surrounding mountains. Call into the Reefton Visitor Centre for more information on local walks.
BOTTLED LIGHTNING POWERHOUSE
A short walk to the source of New Zealand’s first electricity supply
Starting at the Reefton Visitor Centre, this 40-minute loop takes you across the Inangahua River to the run-down remains of the powerhouse that lit up the country’s first streetlights in 1888.
- 40 min loop
- Easy walking
ALBORNS COAL MINE TRACK
Coal-mine machines, and a Leyland lorry
A loop walk with views of the Victoria and Paparoa Ranges. Scattered among old coal mine workings, you will find remains of makeshift winch equipment, including an old Leyland lorry.
- 1 hr 30 min | 2.7 km
- Begins at a car park 9 km along Soldiers Road (off SH7)
KIRWANS TRACK
Multi-day adventure into the rugged Victoria Range
A steady 6-hour climb on a well-formed pack track takes you to the modern 12-bunk Kirwans Hut. Stay the night and return, or continue on past the open-cast quartz mine workings near the hut on a steep descent that partly follows the line of an old cableway to the Lord Brassey stamper battery, before reaching the 6-bunk Montgomerie Hut.
- 40 km round-trip
- 2 or 3 days
WAIUTA TOWN WALK
The West Coast’s best-known ghost town
Wander around Waiuta, a once bustling mining town of 600 residents founded in 1906 to exploit one of the world’s most abundant gold reefs. Deserted since the mining company shut down operations in 1951, it’s well worth the stroll past the Blackwater Mine and remains of old shops, houses and recreation areas.
- 1 hr 30 min | 2 km (return)
- 16 km off SH7 (Reefton Highway)
PROHIBITION MINE AND BALL MILL
New Zealand’s deepest mine shaft
From the Waiuta town site, wind your way up ‘Pro Road’ to the country’s deepest mine shaft, sunk down to 879 metres, creating tough conditions for those who worked in its depths. Recently restored, the foundations of the ball mill show where quartz was ground to extract gold.
- 2.2 km
- Great views from a 580 metre altitude
SNOWY BATTERY TRACK
A well-formed track to a gold extraction plant
Follow a downhill track from the Waiuta town site to the remains of the Snowy River Stamper Battery, where gold was extracted from ground quartz.
- 5.1 km | 2.5 hr return
- Impressive remains of gold-extracting machinery
ABOUT WEST COAST WALKS
For more detailed and up-to-date information on routes, conditions and essentials needed for walks, please visit the Department of Conservation website. There is a dedicated page for each walk or tramp, and advice on what to wear and take with you.
Nearby Operators
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Reefton Distilling Co.
Reefton Distilling Co. is a modern distillery at the forefront of spirit production in New Zealand. We produce a range of award-winning, small batch distilled premium spirits with a distinct West Coast flavour.
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GOTRACKS West Coast Shuttles
GOTRACKS is a Mountain Biker/Hiking Shuttle Service and Mountain Bikes Rentals. We are based in Reefton, and offer transport to and from for Old Ghost Road, Paparoa Track, all Victoria Forest Park Tracks, Maruia Hot Springs and St James Cycle Track.
MTB Hire - daily & half day rentals.
The Broadway Tearooms & Bakery
Call into our historic cafe and bakery, the locals have since 1874 - for great coffee, great food, great service.
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Dawson's Hotel at Reefton
Explore the wonders of Reefton’s surrounds while you stay at Dawson's, the locals’ preferred accommodation.
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