Greymouth

The largest town on the West Coast is Greymouth, hub of a coal and timber producing district and the western terminus of Highway 7. Like most other coastal communities, it flourished during the 1860s gold rush. Today, visitors flock to nearby Shantytown, a replica gold mining town. For local tourist information, stop at the West Coast Public Relations Office in the Regent Theatre.

The Grey River carves a broad valley known as The Gap through coastal limestone to the sea. On clear days you can gaze eastward to a snowy panorama of the high peaks of the Southern Alps; the best view is from the south breakwater. Another memorable vista is from King Domain; the steep track starts from Mount Street (leave your car in Smith Street if you're driving) and climbs to several lookouts.

During the spring whitebait season, you may see local anglers netting for the tiny transparent fish in the Grey River and other West Coast streams. Tuna boats call at Greymouth from January to May.

You can see wild game in a natural setting at Hunting and Safari (N.Z.) Ltd.'s wildlife park at Paroa, south of Greymouth; it's open daily. Highway 73, the Arthur's Pass Road across the mountains, reaches the coast south of Greymouth.

Coal miners' train. You can board the Rewanui coal miners' train weekdays at 12:30 P.m. at Greymouth's Riverside Station for a ride into the Paparoa hills to an operating underground coal mine. Ask at the ticket office for the Rewanui Miners' Train brochure; it includes a map of the area.

The train travels northeast to Runanga and Dunollie, then climbs steep Seven Mile Canyon to Rewanui. During the short stopover, you'll have time to poke around the mine buildings, coal bins, and conveyor belts of the Liverpool Mine. The train arrives back in Greymouth about 3:05 P.m. (2:35 P.m. on Friday).

Shantytown. Popular Shantytown offers a glimpse of life in a West Coast gold mining town of the 1860s. Set amid native bush 13 km/8 miles southeast of Greymouth, it's open daily from 8:30 A.M. to 5 P.m.

A century old church, general store, hotel saloon, and typical shops line the main street. A few buildings have been moved here from other sites; others are reproductions of earlier structures. Among the sights you'll see are an 1837 printing press, an excellent gemstone display, vintage vehicles and equipment, and a replica Chinese den containing articles used by these early miners.

You can climb aboard a stagecoach for a tour of the grounds or ride through the bush on the Kaitangata steam railway. A short trail leads to the gold sluicing area, where you can pan for gold.