Guidebook

Josephine
Guidebook

Food scene

Reef Cottage is one of the historic buildings along Broadway and serves up delicious food and excellent coffee. The staff are always friendly and make everyone feel welcome. The wee courtyard outside is a lovely place to sit to soak up the sun and view of the Paparoa Range.
Reef Cottage Bed & Breakfast & Cafe
55 Broadway
Reef Cottage is one of the historic buildings along Broadway and serves up delicious food and excellent coffee. The staff are always friendly and make everyone feel welcome. The wee courtyard outside is a lovely place to sit to soak up the sun and view of the Paparoa Range.
Alfresco Eatery truly lives up to its name and offers pizzas and other light meals under its covered veranda. With the view of the hills and the sound of the river nearby, it is a lovely dining experience.
Alfresco's Outdoor Eatery & Pizzeria
16 Broadway
Alfresco Eatery truly lives up to its name and offers pizzas and other light meals under its covered veranda. With the view of the hills and the sound of the river nearby, it is a lovely dining experience.
Good hearty pub food in a quintessential Kiwi tavern. Great indoor and outdoor spaces make this a great place for a meal out or a few drinks. Family and group friendly.
Dawsons Hotel
74 Broadway
Good hearty pub food in a quintessential Kiwi tavern. Great indoor and outdoor spaces make this a great place for a meal out or a few drinks. Family and group friendly.

City/town information

Reefton is a historical mining village. Many of the shop fronts along Broadway have been restored and there are sites around town that contain historical information including the mine experience at the iSite. The Reefton School of Mines is open from time to time to view and Oddfellows Hall on Bridge Street allows you to view a small replica town with all the original buildings and their uses. The locals love to share their knowledge of the town and the Bearded Miners often have their coal fire stoked up on Broadway where anyone is welcome to pop in for a yarn. Enjoy the Saturday market open in the summer and the art gallery showcasing art from West Coast artists where all profit goes directly to the artist. Enjoy this small West Coast town with its history and proper Kiwi spirit. Head on in to the iSite for more information on what this town has to offer.
Reefton
Reefton is a historical mining village. Many of the shop fronts along Broadway have been restored and there are sites around town that contain historical information including the mine experience at the iSite. The Reefton School of Mines is open from time to time to view and Oddfellows Hall on Bridge Street allows you to view a small replica town with all the original buildings and their uses. The locals love to share their knowledge of the town and the Bearded Miners often have their coal fire stoked up on Broadway where anyone is welcome to pop in for a yarn. Enjoy the Saturday market open in the summer and the art gallery showcasing art from West Coast artists where all profit goes directly to the artist. Enjoy this small West Coast town with its history and proper Kiwi spirit. Head on in to the iSite for more information on what this town has to offer.

Sightseeing

Blacks Point has a historic museum and a walk that you can do showcasing some mining history.
Blacks Point
Blacks Point has a historic museum and a walk that you can do showcasing some mining history.

Tramping/Biking

The Old Ghost Road trail is through the majestic native forest, open tussock tops, river flats and forgotten valleys of the Buller region. Following the long forgotten gold miners' route, it connects the old dray road in the Lyell to the mighty Mōkihinui River in the north. This trail is for trampers and bikers. You can tramp or bike the full trail or just go for a day out and walk sections of it.
The Old Ghost Road
The Old Ghost Road trail is through the majestic native forest, open tussock tops, river flats and forgotten valleys of the Buller region. Following the long forgotten gold miners' route, it connects the old dray road in the Lyell to the mighty Mōkihinui River in the north. This trail is for trampers and bikers. You can tramp or bike the full trail or just go for a day out and walk sections of it.
A 6 hour tramp up to Kirwans hut, from open-cast quartz mine workings near the hut, a steep descent partly follows the line of an old cableway to the Lord Brassey stamper battery. The track descends further to the 6-bunk Montgomerie Hut. From the hut, a rough four-wheel drive road leads down the Waitahu Valley to Gannons bridge, where a short track returns to Boatmans road end. Mountain biking is generally only done on the pack track from Boatmans carpark to Kirwins hut.
Kirwans Track
Kirwans Track
A 6 hour tramp up to Kirwans hut, from open-cast quartz mine workings near the hut, a steep descent partly follows the line of an old cableway to the Lord Brassey stamper battery. The track descends further to the 6-bunk Montgomerie Hut. From the hut, a rough four-wheel drive road leads down the Waitahu Valley to Gannons bridge, where a short track returns to Boatmans road end. Mountain biking is generally only done on the pack track from Boatmans carpark to Kirwins hut.

Experiences

Reefton Distilling Co. is a local gin distillery founded by Patsy Bass who was a resident of Reefton in her youth. Head on in for a tasting and tour to hear of the story of this small distillery packing a big punch in the gin industry of New Zealand and around the world.
Reefton Distilling Co.
10 Smith St
Reefton Distilling Co. is a local gin distillery founded by Patsy Bass who was a resident of Reefton in her youth. Head on in for a tasting and tour to hear of the story of this small distillery packing a big punch in the gin industry of New Zealand and around the world.
Waiuta Gold Mine and Historic Walk is a must see. The history of this ghost town is very interesting and the walk circumnavigates the town, passing the Blackwater mine, the remains of shops, old house sites and recreation areas. Historic photos depicting the town are interpreted along the walk. Waiuta is a 25 minute drive from Reefton.
Waiuta Historic Mine and Town
New Road
Waiuta Gold Mine and Historic Walk is a must see. The history of this ghost town is very interesting and the walk circumnavigates the town, passing the Blackwater mine, the remains of shops, old house sites and recreation areas. Historic photos depicting the town are interpreted along the walk. Waiuta is a 25 minute drive from Reefton.