Murchison

Murchison Regional Information

Murchison is a farming community on the banks of the Buller River, which flows from Lake Rotoiti to the West Coast.

The township was originally a gold mining settlement and, while gold nuggets can still be found in the Buller River, it is now primarily a base for holiday makers who enjoy the outdoors. Fishing, kayaking, rafting, jet boating and gold panning are all popular activities on the river. Back on dry land, visitors trek on horseback or on foot through countryside and native bush in the area.

Murchison is located on the Buller Gorge Heritage Highway, at the southern gateway to the Kahurangi National Park. The park encompasses 400,000 hectares of wilderness, inhabited by more than 100 kinds of bird and a multitude of plant species. Within the park, there are more than 570 kilometres of walking and tramping tracks, the most popular of which are the Heaphy and Wangapeka Tracks.

Within the township of Murchison, there are several galleries and cafes, although the atmosphere of a small New Zealand town remains. It is a popular stop-off point for travelers driving from Christchurch to Nelson, who dine on the fare offered at local cafes and enjoy the chance to get some fresh air. Murchison also draws visitors from around New Zealand and the world for the annual Buller Festival, a three day celebration of kayaking and rafting, which involves competition and evening festivities.

Navigate with our great Murchison map to stay on the right track and find what you're looking for when traveling in the region. While you're on the road, be prepared for all seasons with weather forecasts, reports and current information on Nelson weather.

For more information, visit the Nelson information site.