- An abandoned gold mining town, once home to 500 people, now a quiet historic site on the West Coast
- Original buildings, foundations and information signs mark out the old bakery, bank, butcher, barber and dressmaker
- The Blackwater Shaft, sunk in 1906 and once part of the second richest gold mine in New Zealand
- Easy 5 km round trip walk around the town, around 2 hours
- Note: the track down to the Snowy Battery and old power station is currently closed by DOC, see Important stuff below
Part of the Greymouth Walks collection.
Quick facts
Getting there
Waiuta is signposted off State Highway 7, 21 km south of Reefton. From the turnoff it is another 16 km of sealed and shingle road to the old township. The road is fine for an ordinary car but it is narrow and winding in places, so take it easy on the gravel sections and watch for oncoming traffic.
There is parking at the day shelter, where you will also find the toilets and water. Sandra parked her truck on the old bowling green, but the day shelter car park is the easier spot for most vehicles.
The walk
Around the old town
Start at the day shelter and follow the marked loop around the old town site. Information signs mark where the bakery, bank, butcher, barber and dressmaker once stood, and there are original miners huts still standing that are worth a proper look. Give yourself longer than you think, there is a lot to read and a lot of foundations to wander past.
The old swimming pool is one of the more surprising things to come across, sitting empty in the middle of what is otherwise regenerating bush. The Blackwater Shaft headframe is the other big landmark, sunk in 1906 and once 563 metres deep.
The old Police Station is another of the better preserved sites, tucked in among the trees a short walk from the shaft.
Track to Snowy Battery and the power station, currently closed
DOC has closed the track down to the Snowy Battery because the soil in that area is contaminated with arsenic, mercury and cyanide, and it will stay closed until it has been decontaminated. Please respect the closure signage and do not go past the barricades, DOC has confirmed that anyone who does so is doing it entirely at their own risk.
Sandra walked this section before it was closed, and the notes below are kept for the historic record rather than as a route to follow now.
From the day shelter the track used to head off past a signposted turn to the battery. A left turn part way along led to No 2 Level, where horses once hauled ore out of the Blackwater Mine and on to the battery by incline tramway.
From the battery the old water race followed the river for about 40 minutes down to the Waiuta Power House, the most interesting stretch of the old route. There were water race tunnels to peer into along the way, one long enough that Sandra could not see the far end, and tall black beech trees kept the whole stretch shaded.
Not much is left of the old power house, but enough remains to work out how it fitted together, and the concrete foundations made a handy seat for a coffee stop.
What you’ll see
Waiuta was a real town, not just a mine site. By 1920 it had a population of around 500, with a hospital, shops and a town hall. Three quarters of a million ounces of gold came out of the ground here, making it the second richest mine in New Zealand at the time. Most of the miners came from Cornwall, Germany and Italy, married men settled with their families while younger single men worked until their pockets were full then moved on. After the Second World War the miners did not come back in the same numbers, and a major cave in in 1951 cut off ventilation and pumping underground. Combined with a large backdated wage claim from the union, that was the end of the mine, and the town emptied out soon after.
What is left today is foundations, chimneys, information panels and the bones of the machinery, all sitting quietly in regenerating bush.
Who it’s for
Anyone interested in New Zealand gold mining history, family groups, and casual walkers after an easy day out. The town loop is flat, well formed and easy walking, good for people who want history without a hard tramp. It is not the walk for anyone wanting the full battery and power station route at the moment, since that section is closed.
When to go
Waiuta sits at altitude and can be cold and wet outside summer, so check the forecast before you head up. Summer and early autumn are the most comfortable times to wander around the open town site. The black beech forest gives good shade on hot days if you are exploring further afield.
Important stuff
Track closure: the track to the Snowy Battery and power station is closed by DOC due to soil contaminated with arsenic, mercury and cyanide. It will remain closed until the site has been decontaminated. Please check the current DOC rules before you go and stick to the open town loop.
Dogs: dogs are not permitted on the Waiuta Town Walk.
Kea: kea are around this area and they are well known for damaging vehicles, gear left on roof racks, aerials, bikes and tramping equipment. Do not leave food or gear where they can get at it.
Staying overnight: if you want to make a weekend of it, Waiuta Lodge is a DOC hut that must be booked in advance through the DOC booking system. No space is held for anyone who turns up without a booking, so check current fees and availability before you go.
Water and toilets: both are available at the day shelter.
My honest take
I really enjoyed this one. You could spend a whole day just wandering the town site reading the information boards outside the old bakery, bank, butcher and dressmaker, and I still felt like I needed another two days to see everything properly. The old swimming pool sitting empty in the bush is one of those things you do not expect to find out here.
The walk down along the old water race to the power station was the best part of the whole day when I did it, shaded the entire way by tall black beech and with tunnels running back further than we could see. That section is closed now, and I am glad I got to walk it when I did, but I would not want anyone ignoring the closure to do the same. The contamination is a genuine health risk, not just DOC being overly cautious.
If you are only doing the town loop, budget half a day so you are not rushing past the old buildings.
Common questions
Can you take dogs to Waiuta Gold Town?
No. Dogs are not permitted on the Waiuta Town Walk.
Is the Snowy Battery track open?
No, it is currently closed by DOC because of soil contaminated with arsenic, mercury and cyanide. It will stay closed until the site is decontaminated, so check the current DOC rules before you go and do not cross the barricades.
How do you get to Waiuta?
Turn off State Highway 7, 21 km south of Reefton, then follow the sealed and shingle road for another 16 km. It is fine for a car but narrow and winding, so take your time.
Are there toilets and water at Waiuta?
Yes, both are at the day shelter where most people park.
Do kea cause problems at Waiuta?
They can. Kea in the area are known for damaging vehicles, roof racks, aerials, bikes and gear, so do not leave anything they can get into.
Other walks nearby
Back to Greymouth Walks.
