Picton to Greymouth
West Coast Self Drive Travel Guide.
Travel Facts
Distance: 387km (240 miles )
Approximately: 5 hours 20 minutes
Road Conditions:
State Highway 1 Picton to Blenheim
Sate Highway 63 Blenheim to Kawitiri.
State Highway 6 Kawatiri to Greymouth
This Guide follows the Buller Gorge Road to Westport and Coastal Route to Greymouth.
This guide sponsored by: Chapel Hill B&B Greymouth.
Picton - Blenhiem - Murchison - Westport - Punakaiki - Greymouth
The short drive to Blenheim which is the heart of wine-growing Marlborough, takes you across the Wairau Plains past vineyards and wineries. Now we must resist that temptation to sample, so no drinking without a designated sober driver.
Picton - Blenhiem - Murchison - Westport - Punakaiki - Greymouth
At the junction of the Opawa and Omaka Rivers, Blenheim sits where James Sinclair first built a hut in 1852, owing it's initial existence to the proximity to ford and landing place for crossing the rivers.
Today the township is a center for the surrounding territory, with a number of interesting places to visit not the least of which are the Museum and Blenkinsopp's cannon situated near Seymour Park.
From Blenheim we follow State Highway 63 west into the Wairau Valley and on to Renwick about 12 kilometres from Blenheim. A visit to the Renwick museum offers rides on gig or wagon. In winter Rainbow Ski grounds are a popular attraction in the Wairau Valley.
Time is marching on and so must we. The drive up the valley is quite scenic as we pass through the settlements of Wairau Valley and Hillersden before leaving the Wairau River behind and reaching St Arnaud at the northern tip of Lake Rotoiti (photo below), where the mighty Buller River begins.
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Part of the Nelson Lakes National Park, Lake Rotoiti and her sister Rotoroa offer abundant summer sporting and boating activities. A short drive then brings us to our first meeting with the powerful Buller River as we continue our journey toward the junction with State Highway 6, before heading south west toward Westport, Murchison and through the Upper Buller Gorge.
Picton - Blenhiem - Murchison - Westport - Punakaiki - Greymouth
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Although part of the Nelson Region, Murchison is our first introduction to the glory and green that is the scenic beauty of the West Coast and Buller Region.
First known as Hampden, Murchison sprang to life with the discovery of gold and later grew into farming. Devastated on the 17th of June 1929 by an earthquake that killed 17 people as it wrenched the mountainsides blocking rivers and cutting roads.
New Zealands longest swing bridge is located just out side of Murchison right beside the main highway and is home to a number of truely awesome experiences.
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110metres long and 17 metres high, this is New Zealand's longest swing bridge. Here the pace can be as lesiurely or exciting as you prefer. There are a number of walks in the area across the bridge that range from 15 minutes to 1 hour, or you can try your hand at panning for gold.
Comet Line, Tandem Comet Line
For the more adventerous, experience the 160metre flying fox or zip line across the mighty Buller. For the true adrenalin junky there is the Supaman ride as you launch into the air for an awesome flight.
Goldrush Jet
The exhillarating Goldrush Jet over the slip rapids and through the rushing waters of the upper Buller Gorge, 40 minutes on one of the premier jet boat runs in New Zealand.
After all that excitment you'll probably need a good hot coffee and replenish the boilers for the rest of the trip. Fortuitously Berlins is only a few minutes drive away, where you will find fabulous kiwi hospitality among the most awesome views you can imagine.
Picton - Blenhiem - Murchison - Westport - Punakaiki - Greymouth
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Continuing the journey through the Buller Gorge at Hawks Crag, in the Lower Gorge, the road has been hacked out of solid rock – you'll drive under a dramatic overhang.
Westport is known as a coal mining town and a base for outdoor adventures. Visit the local coal mining museum, then strap on your walking shoes to investigate the seal colony on Cape Foulwind before heading inland and south to Charleston, Punakaiki and Greymouth.
Please Note: There are no fuel stops between Westport and Greymouth on the Coast Road.
At Charleston, formerly a prosperous gold town, you can arrange underground rafting and cave exploring trips on the Nile River. The road from here to Punakaiki hugs the coast, providing spectacular views of wild beaches and the tempestuous Tasman Sea.
Punakaiki Blowholes & Pancake Rocks
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Punakaiki is famous for its Pancake rocks and Blow holes.
The centrepiece of the Paparoa National Park, the area is packed with a variety of stunning landscapes and offers many excellent coastal or inland walks among the attractions and adventures.
The pancake rock formations date back about 30 million years being created by layers of limestone, overlaid by rock and clay. When the tide is right, the blow holes are truely spectacular as the Tasman Sea booms through them.
Picton - Blenhiem - Murchison - Westport - Punakaiki - Greymouth
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The road south to Greymouth is breathtaking. White capped breakers and rugged rocks on one side, bush-clad mountains on the other side. To see interesting old gold mining areas, look for the Point Elizabeth walkway at the southern end of Rapahoe.
The town of Runanga 10km north of Greymouth is a classic mining village – it offers an interesting walk to nearby Coal Creek Falls.
Greymouth has a long mining history. It is the largest town on the west coast and is known for its awesome seascapes.
Greymouth
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Set at the mouth of the Grey River which the town takes it's name from. Modern Greymouth sits where the local Maori had a small settlement and landing place for canoes visiting the shores for greenstone or Pounamu. This settlement gradually drifted south as the town grew with the influx of european people seeking their fortunes on the gold fields.
The local brewery runs tours or you can catch up with west coast history at the museum. White water rafting, sea kayaking, 4 x 4 bike rides cave rafting, fishing and hiking are among many of the things to do and experience in the region.
On to Chapel Hill B&B
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From Greymouth township continuing south for approximately 10 minutes will bring you to Paroa and the turn off to Shantytown and Chapel Hill B&B. From here it is just 8 minutes drive to Chapel Hill where Joy, John and Crash are looking forward to welcoming you to their little piece of paradise.
Look for the Chapel Hill sign on Rutherglen Road, approximately five minutes after you pass Shantytown, which is perfectly located for the start of tomorrows adventure Gems of the Glen Historic Tour on the West Coast.
Shantytown
No visit to the Grey District or Greymouth would be complete without experiencing Shantytown.
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A faithfully recreated 1860's West Coast gold mining town and a living monument to the hardy pioneers who forded the wildly exotic rivers and streams as they scrambled through the rugged subtropical rainforest in search of their fortunes.
With mining tunnels, bush walks and a complete village and sawmill to explore before or after your gold panning and train ride adventure Shantytown has something for everyone. read more
Welcome to Greymouth - enjoy your stay.
This Guide last Updated: December 2010.
Driving Distance and Times
The distances and times within the Travel Guides are based on travel at an average of 80 to 90kmph in good weather and light to medium traffic, allowing for a break of 10 minutes from driving in each full hour.
Allow extra time for:
Sight seeing, Heavier traffic conditions, Inclement weather and any other needs you have.
There are many factors beyond the authors and our control that can and will impact upon the true distance travelled and time taken to complete any journey.
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