Greymouth (Māori: Māwhera; in English pronounced "Grey Mouth" without shortening the "ou") is the heart of the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island.
Understand
Greymouth Clock Tower
Greymouth is the largest town on the West Coast and is the turnaround of the Tranz Alpine train journey, recognised as one of the top train trips in the world. The town sits along the bank of the Grey River (named in honour of Sir George Grey), about half a mile from the coast.
Greymouth has several scenic walkways along the river and parks, while the surrounding Grey Valley offer adventure activities, heritage attractions and guided nature tours.
Get in
By car
Approximately 2½ hours drive north of Fox Glacier.
The world-famous TranzAlpine, operated by Tranz Scenic departs from Christchurch station at 8:15AM and arrives at Greymouth at 12:45PM daily. Trains depart Greymouth at 2PM for Arthur's Pass National Park and Christchurch.
By bus
Intercity Coaches operate comfortable coaches from Nelson, Westport, Punakaiki and Franz Josef Glacier. Schedules coincide with train arrivals.
West Coast Shuttle offers a daily return service from and to Christchurch. (Ideal for day trips to Arthur's Pass). Departs Greymouth at 8AM and travels via Arthur's pass (9:30AM) and Christchurch airport (11.30) and the Christchurch Square midday. Leaves Christchurch at 3PM, via airport then Arthur's Pass arriving back in Greymouth at 7PM.
-42.461667171.191Greymouth Airport(GMN IATA).No regularly scheduled flights arrive or depart here, although charter flights can be arranged.(updated Nov 2019)
Hokitika airport has two flights per day from Christchurch. Greymouth Taxis (+64 3 768 7078) run connecting shuttle buses.
Get around
This is a small town and you can easily walk to inns and restaurants within the town. If you want to go further afield, your choices are:
Taxi - Greymouth Taxis, 138 Mackay Street, phone +64 3 768-7078. 50 m from the train station, Greymouth Taxis can arrange trips to Punakaiki or other nearby destinations.
Rental car - The Greymouth train station has rental car counters from Hertz, Budget and a variety of discount agencies. Advance reservations are recommended.
Organized tours - Several tour companies will pick you up at your inn, take you to nearby destinations, then return you to your hotel (or to the train station in time for your departing train). Check brochures in the train station or at your hotel.
-42.535722171.1815562Shantytown Heritage Park.A replica gold mining town complete with sawmill, gold sluice and gold panning. A steam train runs several trips each day. Shantytown also operates New Zealand's only steam school in association with Tai Poutini Polytech.
-42.44814171.211243Left Bank Art Gallery,1 Tainui Street.Art gallery (with some works for sale) with space for emerging artists. The gallery has an impressive collection of greenstone. The gallery is in the former Bank of New Zealand built in 1924.(updated Apr 2020)
-42.440637171.1910434Southern Breakwater,Blaketown.A great viewing platform to watch the waves crashing.(updated Sep 2020)
-42.433601171.3245965Brunner Mine Historic Area,Taylorville.Historic site of the Brunner Mine.(updated Sep 2020)
Left Bank Art Gallery
Do
-42.46137171.2004691Westland Recreation Centre,83 High Street,☏ +64 3 768 9076.Great public swimming pools with waterslides, spa and sauna. Also a gym and indoor courts.(updated Sep 2020)
-42.418253171.2449912On Yer Bike Adventures,511 State Highway 6, Coal Creek,☏ +64 3 762 7438.Off-road quad biking through 300 acres of West Coast rainforest and farm.(updated Sep 2020)
-42.445691171.2173323Cobden Cave(from the CBD cross the Cobden Bridge, turn right and park in the small gravelled area immediately by the bridge). A 2-minute walk on a flat gravel track along the Grey River. Explore the cave entrance and the first chamber without a torch. Sturdy footwear is advised for inside the cave. Visitors are advised to go no further than the first chamber.Free.(updated Sep 2020)
-42.447813171.2150144Greymouth Flood Wall(West Coast Wilderness Trail)(the start of the trail is on Mawhera Quay opposite the Railway Station).A lovely flat walk along the flood wall beside the Grey River. There are beautiful views of the river and the Twelve Apostles range, as well as some of the commercial and industrial areas of the town. Follow the trail further to see the historic and modern port areas, then the harbour where there are often fishing boast docked. Continue to the Southern Breakwater, historic gun emplacement, and then the beach. This trail is for walking and cycling. The whole trail can be accessed at various points.Free.(updated Sep 2020)
-42.457281171.2009815Kowhai Bush Walk(from Greymouth CBD go south on SH6/Tainui Street; turn right on Brunner Street beside Dixon Park; turn right onto Turumaha Street and left beside the dairy; follow the road toward Anzac Park and a sealed parking area). A 10-min loop walk through a small remnant area of Kowhai forest and over boardwalks through estuarine vegetation. There is a wide range of aquatic birdlife to be seen on the tidal lagoon, and other native & introduced species in the forest for those with patience to spot them. During the day you may be lucky and spot a Kōtuku/white heron and at dusk you may see or hear a ruru/morepork. The track is flat across a rough gravelled surface and wooden boardwalks.(updated Sep 2020)
-42.440276171.1998226Cobden Aromoana Lagoon Walk(Cobden/Northern Breakwater),Cobden(drive across the Cobden Bridge from Greymouth, turn left on to Bright Street; turn Left on Cardwell Street then follow Nelson Quay and North Tip Road towards the sea until you reach the lagoon walk parking area which will be on the right).Always open.Enjoy views of the Cobden Lagoon and the wide range of water birds that can be seen there. You may be fortunate enough to spot the rare Kōtuku/white heron. On a clear day there are beautiful views of th Southern Alps, and closer at hand the Twelve Apostles range. The track is a flat gravelled surface of about 20 min, with a 100-m walk along the road edge of the lagoon back to the parking area. There is also foot access to the beach from the track, and seats and a picnic table along the way to rest at.Free.(updated Sep 2020)
-42.3969171.21577Point Elizabeth Trail.A nice hike, the Point Elizabeth Trail, connects Rapahoe, just north of Greymouth, to a northerly "suburb" of Greymouth, on the north side of the river. This is probably most practical if you can be dropped off at one end and picked up at the other end.(updated Oct 2019)
-42.408146171.2533628Coal Creek Falls.Enjoy the lovely bush walk down to the impressive Coal Creek Fall.(updated Sep 2020)
-42.548396171.3490389Woods Creek Track,Dunganville.This 45-min forest track passes by tailraces and dams and through historic tunnels built by gold miners.(updated Sep 2020)
Southern Breakwater, Blaketown
Buy
There is a large supermarket, and "The Warehouse", a large general goods type store, next to the train station, making Greymouth a good place to stock up on essentials for your trip. (You must walk around the station to enter their parking lot; do not cross the railway tracks at the station and try to climb over the fence.)
-42.448788171.2103921Red Books,138 MacKay Street.W-Su 10:00-17:00.Sweet little second-hand book shop with a pot-bellied stove. Prices and stock are good, especially for New Zealand and West Coast books, but cash only.(updated Sep 2020)
-42.448542171.2108792Shades of Jade,22 Tainui Street,☏ +64 3 768 0794.A range of locally sourced New Zealand (Pounamu) Greenstone that has been expertly carved into necklaces, earrings and rings.(updated Sep 2020)
-42.459862171.2007052Buccleugh's on High,68 High Street,☏ +64 3 768 5154.M-Th 5:30–10AM, 5:30–10PM; F-Su 6–10AM, 11AM–2PM, 5:30–10PM.A wide range of traditional fare, but including West Coast options from both land and sea. You can try whitebait, venison or blue cod. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are available.(updated Sep 2020)
-42.448056171.2139043The Speight's Ale House,130 Mawhera Quay,☏ +64 3-768 0667.Su-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F 11:30AM-11:30PM, Sa 11:30AM-midnight.Local cuisine, gastropub, bar, pub, vegan options. Good filling pub meals.(updated Sep 2020)
-42.456201171.2044716Santa Fe Milk Bar,78 Turumaha Street,☏ +64 3 768 5215.Fish and chips, as well as their specialty, the Santa Fe – a grease bomb of cheese, potato, and bacon, battered and deep fried. Worth experiencing once. Nothing to do with New Mexico.(updated Sep 2020)
-42.44946171.214632Golden Coast B&B,10 Smith St(from train station, take sidewalk up to bridge, do not cross river, instead turn right and walk up to Smith Street),☏ +64 3768-7839.The first B&B to open in Greymouth, in 1967. Three clean rooms and with shared bathrooms, plus ensuite unit. Friendly owner. Breakfast included.$75-130 per night.
-42.45835171.2043Rosewood B&B,20 High St,☏ +64 3768 4674,toll-free: 0800 185 748,rosewoodnz@xtra.co.nz.Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM.Rosewood combines modern luxuries such as ensuite bathrooms in 3 rooms (one with facilities for the disabled) and a huge guest share bathroom for the remaining 2 rooms, tasteful furnishings with top quality king- and queen-sized beds (cotton linen, your choice of pillows, cosy duvets and extra woollen blankets). There is off-street parking to the rear and wheelchair access.$125-185.
High Street Barber
Connect
Wireless Internet is available for free at the public library (18 Albert St, just off Mackay Street), and at certain hostels and hotels.
Take a day trip to Christchurch or Arthur's Pass. Catch the train to Arthur's Pass (1:30PM departure) and coach back to Greymouth (5:15PM at Arthur's Pass) arrive back to Greymouth at 7PM.
This city travel guide to Greymouthis a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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