Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the Pacific Ocean to the Tasman Sea, passing through Arthur's Pass National Park. En
route is a sequence of dramatic landscapes, from the flat, alluvial Canterbury Plains,
through narrow alpine gorges, an 8.5km tunnel, beech-forested river valleys, and along-
side a lake fringed with cabbage trees. The 4½-hour journey is unforgettable, even in bad
weather (if it's raining on one coast, it's probably fine on the other).
Monteith's Brewing Co
BREWERY
( 03-768 4149;
www.monteiths.co.nz
;
cnr Turumaha & Herbert Sts; 10.30am-7.30pm)
The
original Monteith's brewhouse may simply be brand HQ for mainstream product largely
brewed elsewhere, but it still delivers heritage in spades through its excellent-value tour
(one hour, $20, includes generous samples; three to five tours per day). The flash tasting-
room-cum-bar is now Greymouth's most exciting watering hole (tasty snacks $7 to $18)
- shame it shuts up shop so early.
Floodwall Walk
WALKING
Take a 10-minute riverside stroll along Mawhera Quay, or keep going for an hour or so,
taking in the fishing harbour, breakwater and Blaketown Beach, which leads on to the
West Coast Wilderness Trail (
Click here
)
. Other local walks (most inclined towards min-
ing heritage sites) are detailed in the free Greymouth map and brochure, available from
the i-SITE (
Click here
).
Point Elizabeth Walkway
WALKING
Accessible from Dommett Esplanade in Cobden, 6km north of Greymouth, this enjoy-
able walkway (three hours return) skirts around a richly forested headland in the shadow
of the Rapahoe Range to an ocean lookout, before continuing on to the northern trailhead
at Rapahoe (12km from Greymouth) - small town, big beach, friendly local pub.
Kea Heritage Tours
GUIDED TOUR
( 0800 532 868;
www.keatours.co.nz
)
Kea operates high-quality shuttle-bus tours with
well-informed guides, and visits coast sites and those beyond. Short tours include the
half-day Punakaiki Tour ($115), and the day-long Twin Glaciers ($295). Myriad other
options include a multiday exploration of the Maori greenstone trails.
Sleeping
