Reefton: A Historic Gold Mining Town
Reefton, located on the banks of the Inangahua River, was once a bustling gold mining district. Today, it serves as the main gateway to the Victoria Forest Park tracks, which lead to the area's historic mining sites. The town offers a range of accommodation options, including riverside camping, making it an ideal base for exploring the region.
Discovering Reefton's Charm
Reefton retains much of its historical charm, with many of its original wooden buildings still lining the main road. These structures are gradually being renovated, housing a variety of small businesses, including cafes and a distillery. The town's character is reminiscent of its peak mining days, providing a unique glimpse into its past.
Activities and Attractions
The Inangahua River, which runs alongside Reefton, is perfect for swimming. A walk and cycleway follows the river from the town to a swing bridge, leading to the site of the Reefton historic power station. The local iSite is a valuable resource, offering an excellent display of the town's history and the surrounding region.
For panoramic views of Reefton, you can take a rough gravel side road from Soldiers Big River Road to a viewpoint above the town, or opt for a walk to the viewpoint starting near the historic power station site. If you continue on Soldiers Big River Road, you will reach another area of historic gold mines. To the north, the Golden Progress Mine has undergone rehabilitation with several tracks now open to the public, with an access road located on State Highway 7 south of Reefton.
Within the Victoria Forest Park, the main attraction is the 5-hour Murray Creek Track, which can also be biked, that provides a loop walk around many of the historic gold mining sites. Another option is to visit the Inangahua Swingbridge, south along State Highway 7, then follow the Progress Water Race Track. From there you have the option of hiking into another historic gold mining region.
How to Get to Reefton
The town is situated along State Highway 7, at the intersection with State Highway 69. SH 7 connects Reefton with Greymouth, approximately 80 km to the southwest, and to State Highway 1 and Christchurch, 262 km to the southeast. SH69 connects with State Highway 6, with Westport 78 km northwest of Reefton and Nelson (200 km, 260 minutes) and Blenheim (247 km, 3 hours) to the northeast.
Reefton is well-placed as a base to explore the surrounding region, including Waitutu, Blackball, Maruia Springs, and the Great Coast Road.
