Hokitika

Hokitika was the hub of the early gold mining region, attracting fortune hunters from around the world for a chance to make their fortune from the ground, and the historic buildings reflect the early wealth of the town. Situated just 40 km south of Greymouth, Hokitika also places a strong importance on greenstone, as seen in the carving centre in the town centre.

Hokitika is well know for its warm welcome to visitors – each year it hosts the wild foods festival, where visitors come from all over New Zealand to try such delicacies as fish eyes, possum, mountain oysters, as well as some more genuinely tasty food like venison and whitebait – all washed down with a drop of the local ale – Monteith’s.

If you need essential supplies, Hokitika is the last place on the West Coast to visit banks, pharmacies and supermarkets, so plan a visit if you are there on a weekday.