Reefton to Greymouth
West Coast Self Drive Travel Guide

  Travel Facts
Distance: 79 km (50 miles)
Approximately: 1 hour 05 minutes
Road Conditions:
State Highway 7 Reefton to Greymouth

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Reefton - Waiuta - Ikamatua - Stillwater - Brunner - Greymouth

The route to Greymouth is an easy and comfortable drive on either side of the Grey River valley as you pass through stands of native bush, historic areas and farmlands over the Reefton Saddle and down to Greymouth in approximately 1 hour, (without stops.)

From Reefton follow SH 7 South over the Reefton Saddle and into the Grey River Valley. Approximately 35kms from Reefton you come to the turn off to the former mining town of Waiuta on the plateau above the valley.

This is a short trip (8km) over some unsealed sections, but well worth the drive for the incredible views over the Grey Valley and eastward to the Southern Alps.

Waiuta, high above the Grey Valley .. at one time the South Island's richest Gold mine.

It is somewhat ironic that one of the mine shafts in this locality is the deepest in New Zealand.

You see the township sits at approximately 800metres above sea level while the shaft is over 900metres deep. So in theory those early miners climbed to the top of the mountain in order to drive a shaft to the bottom and beyond of the same mountain.

But it was obviously worth the effort, as Waiuta was one of the most prosperous gold fields in New Zealand and lays claim to being the South Island's richest.

 

Reefton - Waiuta - Ikamatua - Stillwater - Brunner -Greymouth

Returning to SH7 it is a short drive to the settlement of Ikamatua here you can continue on SH7 down the eastern side of the valley through Totara Flat, Ahaura and Ngahere to Stillwater and Greymouth or take the more scenic route by crossing the Grey River and follow the western road down to Atarau, Blackball and Stillwater.

Either route is sealed all the way passing through the valley farmlands and stands of native bush flanked by the Paparoa Range to the West and the Southern Alps to the east.

Following SH 7 brings you to the Aharua River and a lengthy one lane bridge, continue through the valley farmlands and stands of native bush to Stillwater before passing on to the Brunner mine site.

Crossing the Grey and taking the more scenic route affords the opportunity to visit Blackball in the Paparoa ranges before continuing on the the Brunner Mine Site.

 

Reefton - Waiuta - Ikamatua - Stillwater - Brunner -Greymouth

The Brunner Mine is just a few minutes drive west of Stillwater, and south west of Blackball.

The area known as Brunnerton is stepped in mining history, with the settlements of Dobson and Stillwater on the south bank of the Grey and Taylorville on the north being the last vestiges of what once was the largest coal mining operation on the Grey River.

Brunner Mine Site, Grey District.

Grey River, Brunner, Grey District.

From the 1860's through to the 1940's Coal was extracted as coke, firebricks and other products were produced.

Today the site includes many relics and artefacts from the period and stands as an Historic place and monument to the 65 men and boys who lost their lives in the mine explosion of 1896.

The history of the mine is clearly laid out with the site being easily recognised by the Tyneside Chimney just past Stillwater on the south, with the Centinial Monument on the north bank just before Taylorville.

There is a good walkway around the site taking in the former brick works and coaking ovens with many interpretive panels in place and the restored box girder bridge across the Grey River linking the two sides of the former mine site for foot traffic.

Allow 1 hour to explore the site and complete the short walk.

From here it is a short 15 minute drive on either side of the river through farmland, stands of native forest and bush as you continue through to Greymouth.

 

Reefton - Waiuta - Ikamatua - Stillwater - Brunner - Greymouth

Greymouth CBD and the Grey River.

Greymouth is the largest town and main business centre on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, with a population of approximately 13,000.

Named for its locality at the mouth of the mighty Grey River, which is named after Sir George Grey, a former Governor General of New Zealand.

Surrounded by rainforest, wild beaches and glorious lakes, back dropped by the majestic Southern Alps, New Zealand's highest mountains. Greymouth is nestled on the Southern bank of the Grey River.

Originally established as a town to supply the prospectors and surveyors in 1863 and surviving on coal, timber and more recently tourism.

At the heart of the Coast, Greymouth is the perfect starting point for a number of Coast journeys, and sightseeing trips. The most notable being Shantytown approximately 10km's south of the township.

 

Welcome to Greymouth - enjoy your stay.

This Guide last Updated February: 2011