The West Coast - New Zealand - page 828

tional Federation of Labour (a trade union) was conceived here, born from influential
strikes in 1908 and 1931. This story is retold in historical displays on the main road.
Alongside you will find the hub of the town, Formerly the Blackball Hilton (
03-732 4705, 0800 425 225; www.blackballhilton.co.nz ; 26 Hart St; s/d with continental breakfast
$55/110) , where you can collect a copy of the helpful 'Historic Blackball' map. This offi-
cial Historic Place has memorabilia galore, hot meals, cold beer, heaps of afternoon sun,
and a host of rooms oozing the charm of yesteryear; it was named so after a certain glob-
al hotel chain got antsy when its name was appropriated.
Competing with the Hilton in the fame stakes is the Blackball Salami Co
( www.blackballsalami.co.nz ; 11 Hilton St; 8am-4pm Mon-Fri, 9am-2pm Sat) , manufacturer of
tasty salami and sausages ranging from chorizo to black pudding.
Blackball's other claim to fame is as the southern end of the Croesus Track , a two-
day historic goldfields route that clambers over a knob to reach Barrytown. Visit DOC's
website for details.
WORTH A TRIP
A CYCLE ON THE WILD SIDE
Officially opened in 2013, the 120km West Coast Wilderness Trail
( www.westcoastwildernesstrail.co.nz ) is one of around two dozen new NZ Cycle Trails
( www.nzcycletrail.com ) . Stretching from Greymouth to Hokitika (with plans to extend it
further south to Ross), the gently graded track follows a mix of gold-rush trails, wa-
ter races, logging tramways and historic railway lines, as well as forging new routes
cross-country. Along the way it reveals outstanding landscapes of dense rainforest,
glacial rivers, lakes and wetlands, with views all the way from the snow-capped
mountains of the Southern Alps to the wild Tasman Sea.
The full shebang is a good four days of riding but, like many of the new cycle
trails, it can easily be sliced up into sections of various lengths, catering to every
ability and area of interest. The leg from Milltown to Kumara is shaping up as an ex-
cellent day ride, taking four to six hours and finishing at the resplendent Theatre
Royal Hotel ( Click here ) .
Bike hire, transport and advice is available from the major setting-off points. In
Hokitika, contact Wilderness Trail Shuttle ( 021 263 3299, 03-755 5042;
www.wildernesstrailshuttle.co.nz ) and in Greymouth try the folks at West Coast Rail Trail (
03-768 6649, 0800 946 543; www.westcoastrailtrail.com ) .
TOP OF CHAPTER