Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the gateway to the far north. Head south from Inangahua on SH69 and you skip Pun-
akaiki but reach Reefton, where you can either head west to the coast at Greymouth, or
east over the Lewis Pass to Hanmer Springs. You can also cut directly through to the
Lewis Pass via SH65, 10km west of Murchison.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Murchison & Buller Gorge
Murchison (population 490), 125km southwest of Nelson and 95km east of Westport, lies
on the 'Four Rivers Plain'. In fact there aren't just four but multitudinous rivers, the
mightiest being the Buller, which runs alongside the town. White-water sports and trout
fishing are popular here, while the surrounding forested hills dish up adventure for the
landlubbers.
ESSENTIAL WEST COAST
Eat
Whitebait, bought from an old-timer's back door at an honest price
Drink
The only roast on the coast, Kawatiri Coffee
Read
Eleanor Catton's 2013 Man Booker Prize-winning novel, The Luminaries,set
around Hokitika
Listen to
Karamea's laid-back community radio station on 107.5FM; you can even
spin your own tunes
Watch
Denniston Inclineon YouTube, then imagine sitting in the wagon on the way
down
Festival
Go bush-food crazy at Hokitika's Wildfoods Festival (
Click here
)
Go Green
At West Coast Wildlife Centre (
Click here
)
- fluffy kiwi chicks! Too cute!
03
Area code
Sights & Activities
10am-6pm Oct-May, reduced hours Apr-Sep)
for a copy of the
Murchison District Map
,
