Exploring New Zealand

Shantytown Area Guide

Until the mid-19th century, the west coast was free of European settlers. But the discovery of gold in the 1860s turned this isolated area into a haven for miners and other fortune seekers, converting the region into a bustling collection of claims and frontier towns. All jostling for fame, fortune and the accoutrements of mineral wealth.

Those chaotic frontier days are well gone now, though gold and other treasures of the earth (like coal and greenstone) continue to contribute much to the local economy.


But while those mining times may have passed into history, they retain a physical presence thanks to the efforts of the Shantytown tourist attraction. Shantytown endeavours to give the passing visitor a strong flavour of what life was like back when folk lived by their wits and the quickness of their panning equipment.

The site is located just a few minutes south of Greymouth, a fifteen minute drive north of Kumara Junction and the Highway that traverses the Southern Alps via Arthur's Pass. Inside you'll find a collection of buildings and activities around the theme of late 18th and early 19th century town and mining life.

The main centre consists of numerous replica shops and facilities. Some are display sites, such as the carpenter's shop with its collection of tools and equipment. Others are "working" exhibits, such as Griffen and Smith's Beehive Store, which sells ice cream and traditional sweets and candies.

Elsewhere you'll find bush walks, outdoor displays, a working sawmill, a railway station, steam locomotives (which you can ride), a bar and tearooms.

The place is ripe with photo opportunities, both formal and informal. For example, you can get an old-time portrait of yourself in the Golden Nugget Hotel, or take a photo of your travelling companion in the town jail or "rough and ready" outside loo.


With plenty to see and do, it's a relief that the tearooms serve fine snacks, drinks and light meals. We enjoyed a gourmet bread platter, which was plenty enough to recharge our batteries before continuing our exploration of west coast history. Which brings us back to gold and the main attraction at Shantytown.

The classic image of the gold miner is a grizzled face bent over a pan half-filled with water and rubble. Hopeful eyes sifting and searching for the elusive nuggets and gold dust.

Shantytown is your chance to do the same. There's a small panning facility where expert panners will set you to work on your very own deposit. Success is guaranteed, but not before you've spent anxious minutes rotating and tipping your pan to sort the hidden gold from worthless soil and gravel.

Patience is the order of the day, otherwise you'll end up throwing the gold out with the rubbish. The guides are there to help you through any nerve-wracking moments and your reward is a small capsule of water containing the (real) gold you panned yourself.

If you want to take away more than just gold, photos and a full stomach, pay a visit to the Curio shop. It has a wide selection of traditional New Zealand souvenirs, as well as stamps and postcards. The latter two items get a special mention simply because there's a small working postbox at the Shantytown railway station. Cards deposited there get a unique Shantytown postmark.

The west coast is dominated by its magnificent landscape and natural attractions. Shantytown is worth a visit in its own right, but especially so since it's a nice alternative to beaches, bush walks and the beauty of the mountains. Give yourself two to three hours to give it a fair crack.

The steam train ride is included in the entry price, but you pay a small extra fee if you want to pan for gold. Check out the website for admission times, ticket prices and further information.

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