The mining town of Reefton is sited on river flats where the Inangahua River leaves its narrow gorge through the Victoria Range. Originally a gold-mining town, it became a centre for coal mining in the 20th century.
In gold mining is again dominant, with a large opencast pit opened by Oceana Gold. In Reefton became the first town in New Zealand and the Southern Hemisphere to receive electricity, and its streets were lit by commercial electricity generated by the Reefton Power Station. Realising the potential of the then-depressed mining industry, he formed a new company, Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand, with the assistance of the Rothschild family.
Who would have thought?! With that, there are lots of historical gems to snap up in town from the very first lightbulb lit by electricity to the powerhouse that made it all possible. Reefton also went by another name back in the day, Quartzopolis, named due to its huge gold mining industry.
Even today you can pan for gold in the rivers yourself or talk to The Bearded Miners. The best thing of all is that you can discover a balance of history and nature by mountain biking the crazy amount of tracks on offer here, or along the rivers for white water rafting and fishing.
The Lookout Track is a steady gradient up to a cellphone tower opening that just happens to have amazing views over Reefton and its surrounding mountains. Whether you come up here by foot or by bike, we suggest you make this the first thing you do in town to really give you perspective.
Find out more at Mountain Biking in Reefton. Location: Start from Reefton on State Highway 7 to Greymouth for a few hundred metres then turn up Soldiers Road where the Lookout Track is signposted on the left-hand side. You will return back into town. A cheap activity to do in Reefton is to visit The Bearded Miners.
Find out what rocks to look out for on your next hike to find a precious stone. This is as authentic a Kiwi experience as you can get! Reefton might have a reputation for mountain biking but the town also draws keen fishers every year! The Inangahua River flowing through Reefton is the easiest to access with a good population of trout. You could even go on a hiking mission to Lake Daniels, which is an easy three hour one way hike with a DOC hut at the end for overnight stays.
Hire fishing gear from the Reefton Sports Centre. There are also a couple of guides in town who can teach you some fishing skills. Location: Take your pick of rivers! Not only can you check out the original street lamps of the town still standing although not in use , but the first light that was powered by electricity in on the street stills shines brightly on the Oddfellows Hall. Go see the light after dark to see a piece of history. On the subject of electricity, go to the powerhouse that made Reefton the fifth settlement in the world to distribute power to the public.
The Old Powerhouse can be seen along the Bottled Lightning Powerhouse Walk minute loop and is easily accessible from town. Information boards at the Old Powerhouse will give you more information about its history. Reefton has a rich gold mining history and there is still some gold to be found in the rivers. A popular place to try your luck is Slab Hut Creek. Slab Hut Creek is also a Department of Conservation campground. Location: 10km 6 miles south of Reefton.
Explore water races, a poppet head, steam-winding engines that lowered gold up the mineshafts, and the Big River dam. You can also get some great views of the surrounding mountain ranges. Check out Mountain Biking in Reefton for more details.
Reefton is a small town in the Buller District in the West Coast region, 78 km from Westport and 80 km from Greymouth. State Highway 7 passes through the southern part of the town, and State Highway 69 runs north to connect to State Highway 6. The goldrush in the s helped establish a rich heritage which is visible today in the restored heritage buildings. As well as being the first to have a public supply of electricity, the town was the first to switch on an electric street lighting system in the Southern Hemisphere.
Oozing charm and character Reefton offers a range of activities and attractions that help make it an iconic destination. The miners are in residence all year and welcome visitors in to learn how a miner lived in the 19th Century.
Walking, tramping, mountain biking, river rafting, trout fishing, and hunting opportunities are plentiful. Two galleries have permanent exhibitions of work to view and commission enquiries are welcome. Distillery Explore a modern award-winning distillery at the forefront of spirit production. Soak up the heritage vibe in one of the cafes located in heritage buildings, grab a hotel meal, or top up on supplies at the two supermarkets.
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