Waiuta: A Ghost Town with a Golden Past
Waiuta is a ghost town located about 20 km southwest of Reefton on the West Coast of the South Island. This abandoned gold mining town, deserted in the early 1950s, offers a fascinating glimpse into the past with its relics, ruins, and old buildings. The town was vacated after one of the main mine shafts collapsed, making mining uneconomical. Today, you can wander around the ghost town and the remains of the mine facilities.
Exploring the Historic Settlement
Waiuta is now primarily a conservation park where you can explore the historic settlement loop road. A drive or walk around this loop takes you past several surviving buildings, the most notable being the Miners Hall, Police Station, Blackwater Mine, a school and some cottages. DOC also manages one of the buildings as a lodge.
After exploring the town loop, take Prohibition Road through a beech forest to the top of the hill above the town. There, you will discover the remains of the Prohibition Mine facility and a large pile of tailings. During a visit in January, the area was unexpectedly vibrant with rātā, mānuka, and other wildflowers flourishing below the mine tailings.
Hiking and Outdoor Activities
For those interested in hiking, the historic Big River gold workings are accessible from Waiuta. From there, you can continue to the Inangahua Swingbridge. If you prefer a shorter walk, the Snowy Battery Walking Track loop at the southern end of Waiuta provides a more manageable option. For a more adventurous journey, a 4WD drive from Reefton along Soldiers Big River Road to Big River allows further exploration.
How to Get There
To reach Waiuta, take State Highway 7 between Reefton and Ikamatua. Turn east onto Waiuta Road, which is about 20 kilometres southwest of Reefton. Follow Waiuta Road for 17 kilometres to arrive at the ghost town. This route is also a scenic drive through the West Coast's rural and forested landscape.
Other mining areas to explore around the region include Blackball, Blacks Point and Murray Creek Track.
