Hokitika

Hokitika Regional Information

The township of Hokitika is situated 40 kilometres south of Greymouth and was settled during the 1860's gold rush, when it operated as a bustling port. Today, it is an important base for the craft of greenstone or pounamu carving and sculpture. Visitors can watch craftspeople at work and take home a piece of jewellery or art from one of the many studios and galleries in the town.

Like other centres on the West Coast, the local museum provides background information on the history of Maori and European settlers in the region. The West Coast Historical Museum illustrates the history of Hokitika and the surrounding area through photographs, artefacts and relics from gold mining days.

Thirty kilometres south of Hokitika is the township of Ross, where gold is still mined today. Walkways take visitors around the Birchfields Mine and past remnants of the gold rush. It was here, in 1907, that New Zealand's largest gold nugget was discovered. You can try your luck today by panning for gold in the area.

The beautiful natural environment of the Hokitika Gorge offers the chance to walk through characteristic West Coast rainforest, complete with glacial lakes and rivers. A 33 kilometre trek will take you to the Hokitika River at the base of the gorge, where the river's stunning turquoise waters can be crossed by swingbridge. There are many other scenic walks near the township, allowing you to immerse yourself in lush forest surrounds.

The annual Wild Foods Festival is a major event in Hokitika, attracting up to 20,000 people in March each year. Connoisseurs can test their palate with unusual foods, such as possum pie, huhu grubs, gourmet garden snails and Chatham Island seagulls.

Navigate with our great Hokitika 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 Hokitika weather.

For further information on Hokitika, visit the West Coast information site.