The West Coast - New Zealand - page 804

here ) , from where you can also collect the free Reefton leaftlet detailing other short
walks including the Bottled Lightning Powerhouse Walk (40 minutes).
Surrounding Reefton is the 2060-sq-km Victoria Forest Park (NZ's largest forest
park), which sports diverse flora and fauna as well as hidden historic sites such as the old
goldfields around Blacks Point. Starting (or ending) at Blacks Point, the enjoyable Mur-
ray Creek Track takes five hours round trip.
Other tramps in the Forest Park include the three-day Kirwans or two-day Big River
Track , both of which can be traversed on a mountain bike. Pick up the free Reefton
Mountain Biking ('the best riding in history') leaflet for more information; bikes can be
hired from Reefton Sports Centre ( 03-732 8593; 56 Broadway; bike hire per day $30) ,
where you can also inquire about the legendary trout fishing in the environs.
Blacks Point Museum MUSEUM
(Blacks Point, SH7; adult/child/family $5/3/12; 9am-noon & 1-4pm Wed-Fri & Sun, 1-4pm Sat
Oct-Apr, plus school holidays during winter) Housed in an old church 2km east of Reefton on
the Christchurch road, this museum is crammed with prospecting paraphernalia. Just up
the driveway is the still-functional Golden Fleece Battery (adult/child $1/free; 1-4pm
Wed & Sun Oct-Apr) , used for crushing gold-flecked quartz. The Blacks Point walks also
start from here.
Bearded Mining Company HISTORIC BUILDING
(Broadway; admission by donation; 9am-2pm) Looking like a ZZ Top tribute band, the fel-
las hangin' at this high-street mining hut are champing at the bit to rollick your socks off
with tales tall and true. If you're lucky you'll get a cuppa from the billy.
Waiuta HISTORIC SITE
( www.waiuta.org.nz ; off SH7) A once-burgeoning gold town abandoned in 1951 after the
mineshaft collapsed, remote Waiuta is one of the West Coast's most famous ghost towns,
complete with a big old rusty boiler, an overgrown swimming pool, stranded brick chim-
neys and the odd intact cottage, which face off against mother nature who has sent in the
strangleweed. Spread over a square kilometre or so of plateau, surrounded by lowland
forest and looking out towards the Southern Alps, Waiuta is a very satisfying place for an
amble. To get to there, drive 23km south of Reefton on SH7 to the signposted turn-off
from where it's another 17km, the last half of which is unsealed, winding and narrow in
places. Ask at local i-SITEs for more information and maps.
Tours