Westport, Buller, South Island, New Zealand

Westport

General Information History Attractions and Activities Shopping

Westport, Buller, South Island, New Zealand
Port of Westport Fishing Wharf.

General Information

Westport, a port town is the mainservice centre for the Buller district, and the largest township with a friendly population of around 5,000. Westport is situated near the mouth of the mighty Buller River, which collides with the Tasman Sea. Westport has an impressive backdrop of the dense rainforest and jagged peaks of the Paparoa Ranges. The unique natural wonders of the wild West Coast can be fully appreciated in Westport, with its lush forests, evergreen native bush, rugged mountains, golden beaches, untamed rivers and gentle streams.

Westport began as a single trading post through the gold mining in the area, establishing itself as the first town on the remote West Coast. Westport prospered through gold mining, coal mining and timber.
Today Westport is a fishing, coal and cement port operating New Zealand ’s only bitumen coalmine. Mining is the mainstay industry in Westport . It is also the administrative centre for farming in the Buller District.

The mild climate and great outdoors make Westport an ideal destination for travellers of all ages, for that unforgettable West Coast experience.

Westport, Buller, South Island, New Zealand
Cadets at Westport Deep Sea Fishing Training School processing Hoki.

Attractions and Activities

A visit to the Coaltown Museum is a must. It is an excellent, well-presented museum that has captured the town’s coalmining and gold mining history. There are many interesting exhibits, artefacts and photographs that will give you an understanding of how life was in the 1800’s, when mining was Westport ’s main economy. The Coaltown Museum has re-created an under ground mine. Visitors can walk through the simulated mine, which comes complete with authentic clanking sound effects and musty odours associated with mining.

A great complement to Coaltown is the nearby towns of Denniston, Stockton, Seddonville and Millerton. These were once thriving coalmining and gold mining towns, and some are now mere remnants of their former glory, often being referred to as ‘Ghost towns’. They all offer pleasant heritage walks; visit old abandoned mine sites with their rusting relics.

Westport, with its mountains, native forests, rivers and beaches is now well known for its adventure activities and outdoor pursuits. For the more daring and adventurous, there’s caving, jet boating, white water kayaking, jet skiing, surfing, diving, white and black water rafting.
The Metro Cave system offers great underground rafting, exploring a glow-worm cave and deep ravine. The Mokihinui, Karamea and Buller Rivers are all good for rafting adventures.

If adventure activities aren’t for you, try horse trekking, fishing, relaxing on the beach, panning for gold or explore the mountains on a bushwalk. Visit the nearby Cape Foulwind and its seal colony or the rainforests along Charming Creek Walkway in Hector.

Shopping

Westport is the main service centre for the Buller region. Westport offers a wide range of retail shopping along with banking and other services that you would expect in a large centre. Westport has variety of quality restaurants, cafés, accommodation and an airport. Westport is also known for its local west coast brewery, crafts people and gold panning.

History

Heaphy and Brunner discovered coal in Buller in 1846 and mining began in the 1860s. In 1872, mining began at Ngakawau. The coal was transported to Westport by road but due to high costs a railway was built. In 1877 the railway from Westport to Ngakawau was opened and wharves were built at Westport for exporting. In 1878, Westport Colliery opened the Banbury Mine in Denniston. To transport the coal from the mine to the railway station at Waimangaroa, a two stage self-acting incline was built. It travelled 1.8kms and descended 330 metres.
In 1891 the company built the Millerton Incline and the Millerton Mine began production in 1896. The Millerton and Denniston mines closed in the late 1960's.
In 1908, Westport-Stockton Coal Company opened the Stockton mine. In 1944 the company changed hands. In 1953 the new owners built an aerial ropeway, to transport the coal from the plateau to the railway station at Ngakawau. The ropeway extends 7.7km.The Stockton ropeway and mine are still in operation today; owned by Solid Energy.

In 1859, John Rochfort, a surveyor, discovered gold in the region. It was the driving force in the development of Buller. In 1861 gold miners established Westport . Varying amounts of gold were found in the region, so most who were seeking fortune did not find it. Further south the gold was more abundant, so many moved in search of their dreams of wealth.

There is still gold in the area, and nothing to stop you panning for it!!

Westport, Buller, South Island, New Zealand
The township of Westport has a fantastic backdrop of the jagged peaks and rainforest of the Paparoa Range.

Westport General Information History Attractions and Activities Shopping
Westport, Buller, South Island, New Zealand Westport, Buller, South Island, New Zealand Port of Westport Fishing Wharf.	General Information Westport, a port town is the mainservice centre for the Buller district, and the largest township with a friendly population of around 5,000. Westport is situated near the mouth of the mighty Buller River, which collides with the Tasman Sea. Westport has an impressive backdrop of the dense rainforest and jagged peaks of the Paparoa Ranges. The unique natural wonders of the wild West Coast can be fully appreciated in Westport, with its lush forests, evergreen native bush, rugged mountains, golden beaches, untamed rivers and gentle streams. Westport began as a single trading post through the gold mining in the area, establishing itself as the first town on the remote West Coast. Westport prospered through gold mining, coal mining and timber. Today Westport is a fishing, coal and cement port operating New Zealand ’s only bitumen coalmine. Mining is the mainstay industry in Westport . It is also the administrative centre for farming in the Buller District. The mild climate and great outdoors make Westport an ideal destination for travellers of all ages, for that unforgettable West Coast experience.
Westport, Buller, South Island, New Zealand Cadets at Westport Deep Sea Fishing Training School processing Hoki.	Attractions and Activities A visit to the Coaltown Museum is a must. It is an excellent, well-presented museum that has captured the town’s coalmining and gold mining history. There are many interesting exhibits, artefacts and photographs that will give you an understanding of how life was in the 1800’s, when mining was Westport ’s main economy. The Coaltown Museum has re-created an under ground mine. Visitors can walk through the simulated mine, which comes complete with authentic clanking sound effects and musty odours associated with mining. A great complement to Coaltown is the nearby towns of Denniston, Stockton, Seddonville and Millerton. These were once thriving coalmining and gold mining towns, and some are now mere remnants of their former glory, often being referred to as ‘Ghost towns’. They all offer pleasant heritage walks; visit old abandoned mine sites with their rusting relics. Westport, with its mountains, native forests, rivers and beaches is now well known for its adventure activities and outdoor pursuits. For the more daring and adventurous, there’s caving, jet boating, white water kayaking, jet skiing, surfing, diving, white and black water rafting. The Metro Cave system offers great underground rafting, exploring a glow-worm cave and deep ravine. The Mokihinui, Karamea and Buller Rivers are all good for rafting adventures. If adventure activities aren’t for you, try horse trekking, fishing, relaxing on the beach, panning for gold or explore the mountains on a bushwalk. Visit the nearby Cape Foulwind and its seal colony or the rainforests along Charming Creek Walkway in Hector. Shopping Westport is the main service centre for the Buller region. Westport offers a wide range of retail shopping along with banking and other services that you would expect in a large centre. Westport has variety of quality restaurants, cafés, accommodation and an airport. Westport is also known for its local west coast brewery, crafts people and gold panning.
History Heaphy and Brunner discovered coal in Buller in 1846 and mining began in the 1860s. In 1872, mining began at Ngakawau. The coal was transported to Westport by road but due to high costs a railway was built. In 1877 the railway from Westport to Ngakawau was opened and wharves were built at Westport for exporting. In 1878, Westport Colliery opened the Banbury Mine in Denniston. To transport the coal from the mine to the railway station at Waimangaroa, a two stage self-acting incline was built. It travelled 1.8kms and descended 330 metres. In 1891 the company built the Millerton Incline and the Millerton Mine began production in 1896. The Millerton and Denniston mines closed in the late 1960's. In 1908, Westport-Stockton Coal Company opened the Stockton mine. In 1944 the company changed hands. In 1953 the new owners built an aerial ropeway, to transport the coal from the plateau to the railway station at Ngakawau. The ropeway extends 7.7km.The Stockton ropeway and mine are still in operation today; owned by Solid Energy. In 1859, John Rochfort, a surveyor, discovered gold in the region. It was the driving force in the development of Buller. In 1861 gold miners established Westport . Varying amounts of gold were found in the region, so most who were seeking fortune did not find it. Further south the gold was more abundant, so many moved in search of their dreams of wealth. There is still gold in the area, and nothing to stop you panning for it!!		Westport, Buller, South Island, New Zealand The township of Westport has a fantastic backdrop of the jagged peaks and rainforest of the Paparoa Range.