Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
claim to fame was the fantastically steep Denniston Incline, an engineering marvel en-
abling the cartage of coal wagons down a 45-degree hillside.
Denniston is fascinating, its ghostly remains brought to life with excellent interpretive
displays. The
Denniston Rose Walking Tour
brochure ($2 from DOC and Westport
Library; also available as an app) may lead keen readers to the local bookshop to buy
Jenny Pattrick's evocative novels set in these parts. The
Denniston Mine Experience
( 0800 881
880;
www.denniston.co.nz
;
Denniston; 2hr tour adult/child $95/65)
guided tours ride the 'gorge express'
train into the historic Banbury mine for what is a slightly spooky but intriguing under-
ground adventure.
The plateau can be reached via the Denniston Bridle Track (three hours up, two down),
which follows sections of the Incline. Skilled mountain bikers should speak to the folks at
Westport's Habitat Sports (
Click here
)
about maps and bike hire.
Cape Foulwind Walkway & Seal Colony
Poor old Abel Tasman. The first European to sight the Cape, in 1642, he named it Clyppy-
gen Hoek (Rocky Point) but was eclipsed by James Cook in 1770 who clearly found it
less than pleasing.
Today, on a good day, the Cape Foulwind Walkway (1½ hours return) makes for a won-
derful amble. It traverses rolling hills between Lighthouse Rd at Omau in the north, and
picturesque Tauranga Bay in the south, known for its surfing (and a cafe well worth visit-
ing if it's open).
Towards the southern end is the seal colony where - depending on the season - up to
200 NZ fur seals dot the rocks below the coastal path. Further north the walkway passes a
replica astrolabe (a navigational aid) and lighthouse. At Omau, at the walk's northern end,
is the Star Tavern (
Click here
)
, a good place for a pit-stop.
Cape Foulwind is well signposted from Westport, 13km to Omau and 16km to Taur-
anga Bay.
WALKING, WILDLIFE
Old Ghost Road
(
www.oldghostroad.org.nz
)
One of the most ambitious of NZ's new cycle trails, the 80km Old
Ghost Road follows a historic byway started in the 1870s but never completed when the
gold rush petered out. Finally completed after an epic build, the spectacular track traverses
native forests, tussock tops, river flats and valleys.
TRAMPING, CYCLING
