Hokitika Activities and Attractions
Hokitika has much to offer, whether you are coming for business, on holiday or visiting family.
It is a very creative town. Stroll around the streets and discover the many local artists, exhibiting their own unique work. Explore the Hokitika Historical Museum, with displays of Westland's past. Bars, cafés and restaurants are plentiful, so whether it's Fish and Chips on the beach, or fine dining, the choice is yours. Top off a great day with an evening stroll along the beach enjoy watching the sun go down at Sunset Point, before visiting the Glowworm Dell.
Drive further afield and visit the magnificent Hokitika Gorge, Lakes Kaniere and Mahinapua, where you can enjoy swimming, water skiing, picnics and walkways. For further information on our many wonderful walks visit, this site.
The West Coast Treetop Walk & Café, located just south of Hokitika, is a great outing for the family. Then continue south to Ross and visit the Ross Goldfields Heritage area.
Keen cyclists pack your bikes, or hire them from Hokitika Cycles & Sportsworld, and ride the West Coast Wilderness Trail. This will take you on a four day trip from Greymouth to Ross. Also available are 5 individual day rides. Enjoy the day on your bike and return to the comforts of home in the evening at Annabelle Motel. Visit www.wildernesstrailshuttle.co.nz for further details on the Day Rides.
Base yourself at Annabelle Motel and enjoy day trips to the Glaciers, which are a 2 hour drive south, in the Westland National Park. Or venture north to Punakaiki Pancake Rocks in the Paparoa National Park, a 90 minute drive. Be sure to allow plenty of time to stop off on the way and visit Shantytown, a must for the family to visit, www.shantytown.co.nz.
West Coast Wilderness Cycle Trail
Now's the time to discover the last of the wild places and spin a yarn or two of your own, with one of the country's smoothest and most accessible cycle trails. On your bike you'll wind your way through ancient rainforests, along glacial rivers, around moody lakes and across some downright cracking wetlands. You can do it all at once – across four days – or just nab the odd day-trip. Either way, it's a fairly spectacular way to journey from the sea to the sea.
West Coast Treetop Walk & Café
A unique treetop adventure among temperate rainforest giants. Experience life with the birds high in the ancient rimu and kamahi tree canopy. Easy access for all to enjoy along a steel platform 20 metres high and over 450 metres long. Climb to the top of the tower 40 metres above the forest floor. Be inspired by a sensational vista of the majestic snow-capped Southern Alps, Lake Mahinapua and the Tasman Sea. Located just 15 minutes south of Hokitika.
The National Kiwi Centre
The National Kiwi Centre is situated in the heart of Hokitika in an undercover facility that provides viewing of kiwi in our nocturnal house that replicates their natural environment. During your visit you can take part in feeding the giant eels (10am, 12 noon and 3pm daily). The eels are approximately 85 to 100 years old. The kiwi also get fed after each eel feeding. You can view the tuatara, New Zealand's oldest living dinosaur.
The Gold Room
Westland's rich gold-mining story comes to life as beautiful gold nugget jewellery crafted from the locally found natural gold. Watch the in-house jeweller working with the unique and highly prized gold nuggets and flakes, preserving the unique raw forms from the earth. Hold one of the large, real gold nuggets in your hand and feel the amazing weight of gold, or purchase your own gold pan and try your luck! New Zealand gold designed jewellery, charms and chains to tempt you, the perfect memento of your holiday.
Hokitika Glass Studio
The Hokitika Glass Studio is a family business established in 1989. Glass-blowing skills originating in Sweden have been passed on and are now utilised by born and bred West Coasters. They have a large range of blown and freeform glassware. Their furnace holds 220kg of molten glass and is worked at temperatures of over 1100° Celsius. Items are made on stainless steel blow pipes and are shaped using various tools and wet newspaper. Visit their studio factory at 9 Weld St, Hokitika and view this amazing craft for yourself.
Bonz 'n Stonz
Interested in an experience which will last a life-time? Visit Bonz 'n Stonz Carving Studio & Gallery. Design and carve your own unique piece of jewellery or purchase a one of piece carved by a renowned local artist. Steve your tutor, will guide you through every step of the process.
Waewae Pounamu
Waewae Pounamu has New Zealand's largest range of traditional and contemporary Pounamu jewellery, carving and sculptures. Pounamu is the traditional name for greenstone in New Zealand. It is an important part of Māori tradition and hugely significant within the greater cultural identity of Aotearoa.
West Coast Scenic Waterways
Enjoy freedom kayaking or a cruise aboard the Eco Adventurer. Capture the picturesque beauty of the Mahinapua waterways along the original route used by pioneers, gold diggers and early explorers. Experience majestic views of Mt Cook and the Southern Alps and outstanding West Coast flora, fauna and native rain forests.
