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New Zealand
> Nelson - Westland > Hokitika
 Only a half hours drive south of
Greymouth and as such it can be visited
for a day. However as you move south there is a
timelessness which settles on one and it is easy to
relax and live how you feel rather than by any
mechanical schedule.
Most days there are magnificent views of the Southern
Alps which divide the South Island from North to
South.
The town itself situated on the
coast, and on the northern banks of the Hokitika
River. The area is rural with agriculture and
forestry playing an important role.
There is
a rich local history of gold mining and exploration.
Greenstone (green jade) is worked to ancient Maori
patterns, as jewellery, pendants and ornaments. This
craft takes great skill and craftsmanship as this
stone is very hard and durable. The Maori once used
this both for ornamentation and weaponry.
 Things to
do include; visiting the craft shops, jet boating and
canoeing on the Hokitika river, take paddle steamer
on Lake Mahinapua (little Mississippi). Chatting to
the locals in the local hotels. Trips out to Kokotahi
and Kowhitirangi and the Lake Kaniere walkway. Annual
events include a wild foods festival usually in March
where you can sample delicacies from the surrounding
wilderness. Foods include what are normal, like
venison and whitebait, to opossum, huhu grubs and
other more unusual treats..
For those who relish the outdoors, there
are many walkways and walking trails into the
mountains of the Southern Alps. These wander up
though rain forest valleys and on to the tops, most
of which receive heavy snows in winter. (May -
September)
Alternatives
to getting out and perhaps getting your feet wet are
helicopter and other aircraft flights over the
mountains, as well as guided safaris. Get flown into
the hills and collected after your adventure.
Then
there is hunting, as Westland is home to trophy sized
red deer and farther south there are elk. On the high
tops three are more elusive chamois and thar. And do
not forget there is some great fishing for trout.
For self contained accommodation,
see the
Airport Tudor Motel.
For more information see:
The Westland Visitor Information Centre
Cnr Hamilton & Tancred Streets, Hokitika
Private Bag 22, Hokitika
Ph +64 3 755 6166
Fax +64 3 755 5011
At the
nearby town of Ross (20 mins drive) where you can go gold panning, take gold mining heritage
tours of the area and enjoy the local forest
walkways. For more information and advice see:
The
Ross Goldfields Information Centre
Aylmer Street, Ross
Ph +64 3 755 4077
Fax +64 3 755 4078
Getting
there: Drive from Nelson,
Christchurch via Arthurs Pass
or Haast &
Wanaka.
Hokitika has an airport serviced by national
airlines.
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