Seddonville: Mining History and Walks

Seddonville brings together the history of coal mining with walks and landscapes in the surrounding area. New Zealand’s first state-owned coal mine opened here in 1903. The town is also home to the northern end of The Old Ghost Road. It is 85 kilometres long and a route for mountain bikers and trekkers. When planning your trip, you can combine a specific historical connection with different ways to enjoy the outdoors.

Mining heritage around Seddonville

The Chasm Creek Walkway and the Charming Creek Walkway are among the most important reminders of Seddonville’s mining heritage. Nearby, the Charming Creek landscape is one of New Zealand’s best-preserved sawmilling and coal-mining landscapes. This brings together Seddonville’s connection to the area and the broader heritage of mining and timber processing nearby. If you’re interested in industrial history, the walkways and landscape offer different ways to explore the subject: the mine’s history is connected to Seddonville, while the nearby landscape preserves both traces of sawmilling and coal mining.

Walks, tunnels and river views

From Seddonville, the Mōkihinui River area is accessible at the entrance to the Mōkihinui River Gorge. Nearby walks offer different highlights. The Charming Creek North Walkway includes the 50-metre-long Mangatini Tunnel, which leads to a viewpoint overlooking Mangatini Falls. The Chasm Creek Track focuses on the railway route and river views: the nearby trail passes through a tunnel and over an old railway bridge across Chasm Creek. It follows the route of the former Westport-Seddonville railway and offers views of the Mōkihinui River. This easy, two-kilometre loop takes about 45 minutes; the starting point is on Mokihinui-Seddonville Road, inland from Mokihinui.

Choose a place based on your plans

The routes differ considerably in length: the Chasm Creek Track is an easy two-kilometre loop, while The Old Ghost Road is 85 kilometres long and appeals to mountain bikers and trekkers. The Mangatini Tunnel, with its waterfall viewpoint, is another distinct highlight. If you first consider which of these experiences matters most for your trip, you can more easily decide where to look for a holiday rental.

The wider region: Buller District

The wider travel destination of Buller District stretches geographically from Punakaiki in the south to Kahurangi National Park at the northern tip of the West Coast; it also includes Karamea and Reefton. In Reefton, the School of Mines and Oddfellows Hall are of particular historical significance. The hall was the site of the first installation of electric lighting in a public building in New Zealand. The Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Walk offers a different regional highlight: it passes through a limestone landscape featuring pancake-shaped rock formations, blowholes and surge pools. The track is accessible year-round and suitable for wheelchairs with assistance; check conditions before your visit. These examples offer a broader view of the Buller District’s historical and natural features, without conflating them with Seddonville’s local identity.

Discover more destinations: Denniston, Karamea, Kumara, Karangarua, Reefton.

Back to the main travel overview: West Coast.