Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
which features local walks, such as the Skyline, Six Mile and Johnson Creek tracks, plus
mountain-bike rides. Staff can also hook you up with trout-fishing guides.
Murchison Museum
MUSEUM
(60 Fairfax St; admission by donation; 10am-4pm)
This museum showcases all sorts of loc-
al memorabilia, the most interesting of which relate to the 1929 and 1968 earthquakes.
Wild Rivers Rafting
RAFTING
( 050 846 7238;
www.wildriversrafting.co.nz
; 2hr rafting adult/child $130/85)
White-water
rafting with Bruce and Marty on the particularly exciting Earthquake Rapids section of
the beautiful Buller River (good luck with 'gunslinger' and the 'pop-up toaster'!).
Ultimate Descents
RAFTING
( 03-523 9899, 0800 748 377;
www.rivers.co.nz
; 38 Waller St; 2hr rafting $130, half-day kayaking
$125)
Offers white-water rafting and kayaking trips on the Buller, including half-day,
gentler family excursions (adult/child $115/95). Helirafting trips by arrangement from
their new base in Murchison.
Natural Flames Experience
ECO TOUR
( 0800 687 244;
www.naturalflames.co.nz
; adult/child $85/65)
An enjoyable, informative
half-day 4WD and bushwalking tour through remote valleys and beech forest to a hot
spot amongst the trees and ferns, where natural gas seeping out of the ground has been
burning since 1922. Boil a billy on the flames and cook pancakes before returning to
civilisation.
Buller Gorge Swingbridge
BRIDGE
( 0800 285 537;
www.bullergorge.co.nz
;
SH6; bridge crossing adult/child $5/2; 8am-7pm
Dec-Apr, 9am-5pm May-Nov)
About 14km west of Murchison is NZ's longest swingbridge
(110m), across which lie short walks taking in the White Creek Faultline, epicentre of the
1929 earthquake. Coming back, ride the 160m Cometline Flying Fox, either seated
(adult/child $30/15) or 'Supaman' ($45, or tandem adult/child $30/15).
Buller Canyon Jet
JETBOATING
( 03-523 9883;
www.bullercanyonjet.co.nz
; SH6; adult/child $95/50; Sep-Apr)
Launching
from Buller Gorge Swingbridge is one of NZ's most scenic and best-value jetboat trips -
40 minutes of ripping through the beautiful Buller with a good-humoured captain.
