Discover Reefton

Reefton tells the story of its gold-mining history through places you can visit: preserved buildings, a self-guided heritage walk and Quartzopolis, a recreation of an underground mining experience, are among the town’s attractions. There are also tours in the surrounding area, such as to the Big River Quartz Mine or a mountain-biking circuit. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the historic sites in Reefton and destinations outside the town.

Gold-mining history in town

During the last three decades of the 19th century, Reefton was a significant mining centre on the West Coast. Most of the surviving buildings from this period are clustered in a compact area where the three main roads leading into town meet. Restored buildings also line Broadway, where you’ll find galleries, souvenir shops, cafés, pubs and second-hand stores. Historic architecture and present-day amenities therefore come together in the townscape.

The Reefton Historic Area is registered as a historic place under the Historic Places Act 1993. The Reefton School of Mines, established in 1886, offers another insight into the history of mining. It was set up as a centre for mining education in the Inangahua District. The Reefton Visitor Centre is also home to Quartzopolis, a recreation of an underground mining experience. Together with the buildings and heritage walk, these offer more than a single glimpse into the past: the town’s history can be explored through its architecture, education and mining.

Walks and discoveries by the river

A self-guided heritage walk takes you through Reefton and includes the Bottled Lightning Power House on the other side of the Inangahua River. There is also a 40-minute circuit starting at the Reefton Visitor Centre. It crosses the river to the crumbling remains of a power station that supplied the country’s first streetlights with electricity in 1888. The 40-minute estimate applies to this circuit; it is a useful guide when planning a walk during your stay.

Tours and destinations in the surrounding area

The remains of the Big River Quartz Mine and its associated settlement sites in Victoria Forest Park are among the major attractions near Reefton. The mine is 30 kilometres south of town. If this excursion is a key part of your trip, take its location south of Reefton into account when planning.

A popular mountain-biking circuit starts at the Murray Creek Track in Blacks Point. It follows the Waitahu Track to Gannons Road and takes about five hours. The approximate duration helps you plan for this tour as a separate outing. Slab Hut Creek is also home to a public gold-panning area where no permit is required. Mining history can therefore be explored through remains and walking tours, as well as a hands-on activity.

Town life and a base for your trip

When choosing holiday accommodation, consider whether you want to focus mainly on Reefton’s history and the offerings along Broadway, or make excursions in the surrounding area a priority. The road connections are also useful for getting around: State Highway 69 runs north through Reefton and connects the town with State Highway 6. State Highway 7 runs along the southern edge of town.

A special stop is Reefton Distilling Co. Its tours offer an insight into the production of Moonlight Creek whisky and Little Biddy gin, and must be booked in advance. Tours and tastings are offered at the sales outlet in the historic, restored Harold Bros General Store in the centre of Reefton. If you’re interested in local production, you can plan this as a separate activity. This means your trip planning can encompass everything from history and walking routes to a look inside a local distillery.

If you’d like to continue your destination search beyond Reefton, you’ll also find Denniston, Karangarua, Karamea, Seddonville and Kumara here.

For the regional travel guide: West Coast.