Highly recommend stopping here! Although be prepared, we went in expecting to be in and out in under an hour, we were there over 3 hours. Also pay the extra and check out both exhibits, the history here is very interesting and well presented with interesting facts and information!

What an extraordinary place. Met by wonderful people who knew stuff and came back to make sure we were getting all the information we wanted. Allowed to take photos. Incredibly amazed at the Pacific crash site of the Lockheed Hudson. Brilliant to have so much history open to the public. The food and coffee were good too. Thanks to everyone.

Absolutely worth the time to go through both exhibitions. We spent 2 hours here. The short cinema experience in the WW2 is very informative.

My husband and I were driving through Blenheim and had heard from a New Zealand Facebook travel post that this museum was worth seeing. We planned to stop here for an hour, but ended up spending three hours at both the WWI & WWII museums. They were both great, but we were very impressed with the WWI museum! A museum educator, Roy, was absolutely wonderful! He continued to check on us at the WWI museum every so often and explained the exhibits and told us the historical facts behind each exhibit (which each exhibit is based on an actual event or photograph that had been taken). He offered other factual information about planes (Irish linen for the wings, propellers with interruptor devices, darts the soldiers dropped before bombs were invented, etc) He was one of the highlights of the museum!!! We would highly recommend this museum. Also there is a nice café with food, pastries, and beverages for before visiting or between museums or after visiting both. We purchased pastries and beverages & also brought some of our own food and had a nice picnic on the tables outside provided.

What a fantastic location. I am so happy we decided to go here and have a look, I found a bookme special too which was even greater. If you are passing through or staying in Blenheim, this is a MUST! We spent 1.5hrs there and it was just enough.

Aviation and history buffs, this place is a must. WW1 actual planes as well as replicas, then onto WW2 planes. Loads of information and stories, being part sponsored by Sir Peter Jackson the sets are of Hollywood standard.

I am not an aviation person, but wow! I definitely don't think you need to be. What a fantastic place. The displays that have been made by Weta Workshops are of their usual standard. So real looking. Definitely a must visit.

Booked for my birthday celebration meal. Was stunned by the beauty of the surroundings and amazing food. Staff were attentive and helpful. The wine was fantastic and a favourite of mine hence booking at this particular winery. A lovely evening which was worth the 6 hour journey from South Canterbury.

Had a beautiful lunch at Wither Hills, the lamb and fish was perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious. We both had the sticky fig pudding and enjoyed it thoroughly, could have licked the plate! Service was great, very accommodating even though we hadn’t booked. Ben our server was fantastic and very knowledgeable, helping us with our wine and food choices. Will definitely be returning. Thanks for a great time!

We made a lunch reservation on a Sunday and were pleasantly surprised with the availability of tables facing the vineyard view. The food was delightful and the view’s breathtaking. Quite happy with the attentive staff who made sure we were happy with the experience.

Anaise delivered an exceptional customer service experience from start to finish. Her in-depth knowledge of each wine was impressive—she explained every detail with clarity and passion, even sharing fascinating insights about the history and regions behind each one. Anaise also went above and beyond by giving us a personal tour of the venue, highlighting how beautifully the space can be used for meetings and special events. We can’t wait to return and hope to be hosted by Anaise again. She is truly a gem and an invaluable asset to the winery!

Such a beautiful location for a wedding. We had our very small wedding ceremony here. Only 13 of us but the smaller private dining room was perfect. Plenty of choice for where to have wedding photos taken...it's all beautiful. Food was delicious, we just ordered a variety of the small plates. Wine is beautiful and staff were awesome, they pretty much left us to our own devices which was exactly what we wanted. Highly recommend.

Interesting – This was a group event (40 adults) for a wine tasting and lunch. Service was good and the selection of wines was interesting. The group lunch included lamb meatballs (tender)and roasted chicken (just OK). Their wines are better than their food. Go there to learn about Marlborough wine region.

We had a fantastic time from the moment we stepped in. Our waitress was very warm and welcoming, and the food did not take very long to come out. We tried the wine flight, and despite not being a big wine fan, it went down very well! Salad with the addition of sliced pears was so delicious alongside the steak. We, along with the table behind us, were not major fans of the banana fritters (served like a spring roll as opposed to a batter), however, that’s just personal preference 🙏

What a wonderful way to experience this stunning area. I loved seeing how locals enjoy meeting the boat as it pulls up to their jetty’s to deliver their supplies. The crew were very informative of the local mussel industry etc as well as wild life in the area. The opportunity to stop off at Te Rawa Restaurant and enjoy a delicious lunch was a bonus as was sampling some of Marlborough’s finest wines while on board the mail boat. You can comfortably walk around the boat, go upstairs or out the front or back to get great views and photo opportunities. What a great day out on the water.

We had an absolutely wonderful day out on the Pelorus Mail run trip last Friday. Thanks to Ross and Lynette for their very informative commentary, fun stories and constant attention to ensure everyone was happy all of the time. Such an awesome trip, being a 'local' rather than a tourist. Cheers Penny and Roger

Beautiful day cruising around the sounds, boat clean and roomy, nice cheap local wines/beer on board, lovely friendly farm experience host... Spectacular dolphin encounter, seals at mussel farm. Very enjoyable day out with great skipper Ross and crew!

Outer Sounds Mail Boat run on a beautiful day - couldn't have been better. Journey was very information with Ross, the skipper, giving a running commentary as we visited each island. The speaker system on top deck could have been clearer especially when engines were running fast. Otherwise the trip was faultless, the boat spotlessly clean & service 1st class. Take your swimmers if on a warm day - beautiful swimming spot at lunch break. Also a jacket & 'tie-down' sunhat.

We had a fantastic few hours cruising around the Pelorus Sounds. Stopping in at various boat ramps & being greeted by the locals & their animals. The scenery was amazing despite the cloudy weather and it didn't affect our enjoyment of the day at all. The staff on the boat were fantastic & provided a commentary of where we were, where we were going & history on places & events around the Sounds. Highly recommended. Thanks guys!

Did the mail boat cruise today and enjoyed it very much. Great, informative commentaries. Highly recommended.

Fantastic day out! Took my 90yr old mum and we had the best time. We loved seeing the dogs coming down to meet the mailboat to get their biscuits. Beautiful scenery and excellent friendly staff from start to finish. Thanks for a lovely day. 😃

Jade was an incredible guide and this was the highlight of our Marlborough trip. We had some rain the night before so the water level was elevated and the current was faster and the bumps slightly bigger. Having no experience we were worried these factors would mean we were 100% going overboard but Jade’s clear instructions, calm energy and expert manoeuvres ensured we were screaming in fun, not in terror. If you’re hesitating because you don’t know how to swim, scared of the water or think you don’t have the right experience…if we can do it, you probably can too!! It’s SO worth it!

We had a great paddle down the beautiful Pelorus river. You alternate between smooth stretches where you can just sit back and enjoy the view, and more active stretches where you go over small rapids (you are definitely going to get splashed so dress appropriately). Our guide Jade was awesome, giving us directives on how to navigate the rapids, sharing interesting information about the history and the nature in the area, taking pictures of us while we were busy navigating the rapids and making sure everyone made it through safely (helping us dominate the flow). It is more of a kayaking experience than a tour of the Hobbit filming location. We did stop at the filming location where our guide pointed out where different shots were filmed from. But as fans of the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, this was definitely the best way to visit the river used for the barrel escape of the dwarves in the Hobbit.

There were a few details about my experience that were not as advertised. Firstly, sunscreen and bug spray were NOT provided, which is in direct opposition to what the website said -and how I planned my day. The biting flies were intense - WEAR PANTS AND A LONG SLEEVE SHIRT. I thought that we were going on a 4 hour excursion (as the site implies) but we were back before 5pm, spending less than 2 hours on the water. I specifically booked this tour because it was 4 hours long, and even if you count safety briefing and travel time it was still less than three, less than two on the water. The big highlight of this paddle is that you are crossing through some of the scenery that was filmed in the Hobbit, which was pointed out to us. However, the laminated photos that we were provided for context for these shots were in such low image quality that it was actually very hard to see what we were being shown. It looked like someone had texted an old JPEG and then photocopied it seven times, it was mostly just pixels. I was surprised, considering that that is the highlight of this tour, that the quality of the images was so low. I do want to shout out to my host, as she was incredibly knowledgeable and accommodating, and a wellspring of knowledge about the local area and wildlife. She did make us all feel quite safe and relaxed. I would say, however, that she was the only saving grace of the whole tour. I wouldn't recommend this tour otherwise.

Can’t tell you how much fun we had with Jade at this adventure. She was very helpful and entertaining. The best parts of the tour can only experienced by doing it. Jade is strongly recommended and this adventure is a must do tour if loved the hobbit movies. No experience in water rafting is required. Make sure you wear water socks and beach shorts/beach wear. Bug repellent is a must!!! To have fun in this adventure all you will need is Jade and a good day! Thanks Jade!!!!

Amazing experience and Jade was the best guide, really encouraging and knowledgeable. Definitely recommend them!

Great day out for a novice like myself. Jade is a fab instructor - just lets you get on with it and learn by doing.

Holy Holy had the best adventure tour with Shane and Khan out on thier 22meter tuna fishing boat. They went out and beyond to thier ability to make it a trip of a life time. Covered all the species, fishing, deer hunting pig hunting and cray fish for breakfast. These two are the true southern experience with the sourthern rawness that make you know your experiencing the real thing. The beauty is they can organise accomadation at the blue mountain lodge and throw in mountain biking too. Thanks Shane and Khan for making this an experience never to be forgotten.

Absolutely beautiful winery . W took some work mates there to introduce them to wine tastings that staff we friendly and knowledgeable. You can tell thay really enjoy their job and a passionate about what thay do . Would 100% recommend this as a must do . Even left with a couple of bottles to share with the wife when I return home

Quite a lot of fuss with long waiting times. Reservations are essential. The wine and Perlorus sparkling wine (which, logically, cannot be called champagne) are very tasty. We particularly loved the classic Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. A fantastic wine. However, there are wineries in the surrounding area that have a cosier atmosphere, offer equally good wine and are not so pretentious.

Wine is of course impeccable, but I would give the restaurant a miss. Service was excellent though food did not fully hit the spot. Come for the wine, lunch elsewhere

Outstanding wine, we did 2 of the tastings and both were excellent, the 2025 Sav is the best I've ever had. I was also given a free glass of bubbles for my birthday, will be back again! Beautiful cellar door.

Visited cloudy bay for the first time on sunday. Beautiful exterior, easy to find and park, wood fire was lovely inside, we loved the indulge wine tasting really enjoyed it. Their sav. Blanc and pinot noirs are stand outs. We were looked after by a friendly and knowledgable young woman. Recommend a visit.

I visited Cloudy Bay for a wine tasting and signed up for a $30 tasting of five different wines. The staff brought me a single wine glass, and instead of changing glasses between tastings, they poured all five wines—rosé, white, and red—into the same glass one after another. Naturally, the flavors got mixed. I had high expectations, so I was quite disappointed.

We are tourist from The Netherlands and we found this Vineyard by surprise. We attended at the sunset movie screening and it was amazing. The wine was so good, there was live music, the food was excellent, staff was super friendly. We will be returning here for a wine tasting on the way back during our holiday. On extra: did the winetasting as well. Got the 5 course one wich was 30ndz. The guy giving the winetasting was super friendly and took his time to awnser our questions even though it was very busy. He also knew a lot about the wines. The only downside was that there was a comment section during the reservation that you could fill in if you were celebrating something, wich we were so we filled it in. They didn’t do anything with it. If you’re not going to do something with it, dont have a section like that.

This is a really good place to spend a few hours in. The central point to the whole parlk is to recreate a page of Nelson's past as the early settlers would have known it. However there are lots of vintage vehicles to see, a cafe, a maritime museum, and windmill and more. This place is definitely worth a visit.

Absolutely loved it lots still under construction but great experience

Founder is a peaceful place in the winter. Going in for a wander and a contemplate is lovely, especially if you time it with the open hours of the cafe. They make a good coffee! I was there when they were setting up for the Illumination show. Went back at night , sorry no photos... it was so pretty and cute. Would definitely go back next year!

Wonderful place to explore. Can spend a few hours there. Unless there's an event on its usual free entry for locals or people going to the cafe. Lots of things to check out - heritage buildings and vehicles. If you've got kids its nice to sit outdoor at the cafe and enjoy lunch next to the playground to keep an eye on them. Buy tickets for the short train ride. It goes back and forth each way on two tracks and they have to change the end the locomotive is on each direction so it take a bit of time, maybe was an hour.

Very quiet and not much of anything to do - besides of course looking at the displays and the buildings. Cool things to see if you like history but wasn’t very interactive and a lot was closed. Definitely not worth the price. It has potential to be fun if there were real people in the shops all dressed up, things to buy (like in the general store having old candy, drinks, toys, whatever). The cafe was pumping and the playground is good for older kids. The rail cart/train costs extra which was disappointing as it’s the only interactive thing and you already pay to get into the park. The grounds (gardens and even the displays) were also not very tidy.

This is a great cheap day out. About $11 per adult. I particularly enjoyed the beer & hop museum, some fascinating history in this area! Well worth a visit if you have time to spare. The on-site cafe is fantastic too.

The Founders Heritage Park is a gem in Nelson's crown. My expectations were low considering entry was only eleven or so dollars. However it soon became clear how historically significant and visually pleasing the buildings were. Hundreds of items in the stores made me feel like I was in Back To The Future III. The amount of ships in bottles was astounding. I wish I only knew to bring some gold coins to operate the model trains in the train carriage.

Stunning views all around and some pretty nice information up there too. Benches here and there but always occupied by freshly tired hikers haha. Tad bit steep but not hard walk. Doable for most people.

The walk to the monument is quick and easy. The views of Nelson city and the surrounding hills and valleys are very cool.

Great activity for a couple of hours. Walk up to the geographically marked centre of New Zealand. Entry is from Nelson Botanical Reserve. Very steep hill climb. You will be rewarded with spectacular views around Nelson out to the port and all across the city. Monument and maps at the top. Pink flowers on the trail look to be banana passion flower, which according to research, are considered invasive species in NZ. If you have dodgy knees, take your time and be sure to take your walking stick and put your knee braces on .!

Set amongst mature trees in the center of Nelson. This is a little gem if you like a walk and great view. The easiest and warmest track is from the western (city) side with a gradual zig zag to the top. Unfortunately google directs many to the eastern side which is steep, damp and cool. Dogs are allowed on the tracks and adjacent parks which is an added bonus.

A very significant place in Nelson and a good place to walk around and see the sunset. It's very easy to walk around and enjoy nature seeing a landmark. Ideally combined with the Japanese garden visit it is a good walk. On the way you could see some farms and a very good view of Nelson bay.

Access from Hardy St Botanical reserve where parking is available. Bit of a climb but very well laid out path to reach the top of the hill where Centre of New Zealand mark is. About 30-40 slow to moderate time in minutes walking slightly steep at places flat climb without steps. Panoramic views of Nelson 360 degrees. Very rewarding views. There are more walking trails at the domain too.

Climb to monument is good exercise with a rewarding bird's view of the surrounding area. I started from Branford Park so my walk was about 20 minutes. Good path with some rocky places as well as brief steep sections.

Nelson Cathedral Church is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places to visit in Nelson. Located at the top of the hill in the city centre, it offers a lovely view and a calm atmosphere. The architecture is stunning, with its classic stone design and tall spire, making it a true landmark of the city. Inside, the church feels very serene, filled with natural light and a sense of history. The garden area and surroundings are well maintained and perfect for a quiet walk or to sit and reflect. Whether you are religious or just appreciate beautiful buildings, the Nelson Cathedral Church is definitely worth a visit.

Stunning cathedral with beautiful gardens and surrounds. Great video history on screen in the cathedral. Loved the organ pipes, be awesome to hear them!!! Lovely stained glass windows 🪟

Lovely cathedral and place. Please bear in mind it was near destroyed in infamous 2012 earthquake and is slowly being rebuilt

We dropped by on the way to Christchurch. One of the female staff kindly explained how the cathedral was built using concrete partially and changing the height of side walls based on experiences of earthquake. Great! (Apr. 2025)

Well worth a visit the gardens were lovely the church itself beautiful. Some great views and photo opportunities as you climb the stairs. Free to visit can choose to make a donation to support building repairs.

Signature sightseeing building in Nelson, a must-visit place. I enjoyed reading the short introductions inside the church. Although the weather wasn't good for photos during our visit, we still spent time here.

A lovely place to visit. Very Welcoming! The organist was stunning accompanied by a talented Choir! There was an amazing morning tea served with Great tea and percolated coffee.

Wine tasting at the front of house, rock up and enjoy. Really tasty selections. Outdoor seating was fantastic in the summer. Wished there were more food/snacks choices available though.

A delightful place to enjoy wine tasting even in the rain. Their olives and warm, fresh bread were spot on. Their staff was ever so helpful and friendly.

Stunning vineyard. Amazing Pinot noir. Decently priced- tastings $15/4. Bottles ~$55 (to drink on site. Takeaway ~30% cheaper). Can order charcuterie boards, which was highly recommend to us, yet we recently ate. Staff very friendly and attentive. Went on a weekday. Lots of parking and available seating.

I had a remarkable welcome (availability and knowledge) from Reuben, who introduced me to the range of wines from this estate. I was very impressed by the quality of this Estate, particularly the finesse and balance of the wines. After the tasting, I enjoyed a picnic in the beautiful and relaxing garden, with cheese, an excellent homemade tapenade and a succulent baguette, with a glass of Riesling which made my day! I highly recommend this estate.

Neudorf make seriously good wines. While Chardonnay is their specialty, they make very good riesling, pinot gris, albarino, rose and pinot noir. You can taste a range of wines in the tasting area, but I also recommend taking time to sit in their courtyard area overlooking the vines, enjoying one of their picnic hamper lunches with a glass or bottle of their wines.

Visited Neudorf on Sunday just been and was very impressed. We enjoyed a delicious wine tasting (Ps. they donate tasting proceeds towards rescue helicopter!), the grounds are beautiful with nice seating options outside in the sunshine, the woman serving us was lovely, the jazz music playing was smooth, and the picnic shop corner is such a great idea! After wine tasting, enjoyed a glass of their dry Riesling and chose some beautiful local picnic items (Brie cheese, freshly baked and warmed ficelle mini baguette, local jar of beetroot plum relish, and some olive oil infused oat crackers, plus Kumar a crisps). Everything was very fairly priced and it was a beautiful way of spending the afternoon on our way back to Nelson. We’re thankful that Owen River Lodge’s host Felix recommended Neudorf to us.

We fell in love with this winery in 2017, and nearly 7 years later it’s still delivering great Chardonnays. It’s a bit of a drive to get here - allow a good half hour if you’re staying in Nelson - but the last part of the drive in the Moutere region is lovely, and passes a lot of farm stalls. They don’t charge for tasting, and only offer 4 or 5 wines, but seem pretty flexible if you have a keen interest in specific wines (as we do with their chardonnays). The basic Chardonnay is pretty good value for $28, but it’s the better wines that will have you splashing out. And the setting here is superb, a lovely garden overlooking the vineyards, and simply wonderful hosts.

Excellent from start to finish really enjoyed our day here we will be back next year,horses were amazing ,scenery stunning and owners and girls excellent would highly recommend Baton horse trek , We were made to feel truly welcome.Thank you

Love the place, recomended highly, love the Honeywell Hut

Wonderful serene setting, it won't disappoint.

It is very tidy and clean.

Another great stop on the New Zealand journey. The lake is amazing with a wonderful hot spring at one end. Take the classic wooden boat and tour the lake.

Great big lake, nice and clean and great views from up Mt Robert. Lots of snow in winter time and lots of massive eels around the warf just Infront of the carpark. Big carpark and usually on a snowy or sunny day it's full of people.

Beautiful view and clear waters. There are many people by the lake but you don’t feel the crowd because of the vast space. I visited in Jan and there were no sandflies which is pretty awesome. Many tracks around the lake to explore, and Kayaking would be great here as the waters are not choppy.

Beautiful view and a peaceful location with a nice mountain range where the snow can get even lower than pictured. A nice local township with forest walking tracks.

We camped at the DOC campground next to the Lake Rotoiti Wharf recently. Incredible views, so serene with a number of walks nearby for better views of the lake. There are several campground locations here, with really good amenities at all, this one had flushing toilets, a shower block (cold showers), playground, rubbish disposal area and kitchen block. We considered it glamping with how great the amenities were. Highly recommend staying here, its popular so book in advance if you can, about an hour or so from Nelson.

This is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever visited around New Zealand. The scenery is simply stunning and must be seen by all in the upper South Island. The little township has a fuel station and convenience store along with great accommodation options tucked in the bush or on the main road.

An amazingly beautiful lake with many scenic hiking trails! We enjoyed visiting this lake and enjoying its natural beauty and beaches. It is an amazing place to get photos, as the lake is highly reflective with surrounding mountains. The dock at the lake is also famous for its many eels , that crowd around its piers and are easy to photograph through the clear water. We stayed a week in this area exploring the lake and the trails around it, and we wish that we had stayed longer!

Such a great experience! Mike was a very entertaining host. We got a mix of history and geology thrown in with the fun and speed. It felt very safe throughout. I would highly recommend - just make sure you use sunscreen!

The view is amazing, Mark is very funny and friendly, the drive is awesome, so much better than the one we had in Queenstown! Highly recommended!!! And Bowie is so cute!!

This was shut the front door fun, Mark is the best operator in New Zealand, smaller boat than in Queenstown but more crazy, more professional and much much much more adventurous. You get your bang for the buck and then some. I can't stress this enough, this is the BEST one and I highly recommend everyone to go here and enjoy it. We did others as well but this one... OMG, the speed, the thrill! Thank you Mark for really putting the F in fun for us 🤣 A 360° greeting from the Public Speaker from Sweden with special request 🤣

Have rode Shotover in Queenstown but this was miles better. Excellent 'Driver' and amusingly commentary. Suspension Bridge just added to the overall experience. Looking forward to returning sometime soon.

Had an amazing trip on the Buller with Mark. He was such a good host and guide. Never done jet boating before and not sure we’ll ever top this one as it’s a stunningly beautiful place. Thank you for an amazing afternoon Mark.

My Husband and I had a spectacular time with on the jet boat. Mark, our driver went above and beyond to ensure we had a great time. We wanted to take photos and videos, so Mark was very clear at communicating when was an appropriate time to video/ take a photo and when it was best to put the camera away to ensure we held on for some 360 spins. Highly recommend Buller Canyon Jet Boating. While there you can also experience the Bulla Canyon Swing Bridge. Thanks Bulla Jet Boat company and Mark for a wonderful day it is truly a holiday highlight.

We stopped here on the drive to Westport, and were so glad we did. There was a swing bridge going across the buller river,different walks to go on ,long or short, interesting things to look at for all ages. A zip wire ride, and best of all there was Marc with his Jet boat, what an incredible experience up and down the river, through the Rapids. Marc was an amazing character and really made the trip. Not the cheapest thing to do but well worth the money.

We had an enjoyable time at this venue so I'm curious why there are some negative reviews. The team really need to cut back the vegetation on the loop walk so visitors could enjoy the view properly. The bridge is exhilarating, although I wish people were less comfortable crossing at the same time! The toilets could do with a deep clean but were acceptable in the meantime. Staff were friendly. Definitely worth the minimal entrance fee.

Went here a while back and didn’t expect you had to pay. The next time I came back and bit the bullet and was pleasantly surprised. Such beautiful views and heaps to do once you get over the other side. You might have to be patient as the swing bridge isn’t that wide, and also be careful of where you put your hand as I got a small cut on mine. It is so very worth it though. Lovely loop tracks and multiple natural attractions to look at.

Overall value for money 2.5/5 No family pass No combos so yiu do mkre activities and save. Bridge 3.9/5 $12.50 - Went in the morning. Manager/owner was very welcoming and friendly. Paid our entry and went on in. My first thought of the bridge was disappointing after being on the ones further down the country, yes this one is longer but I feel it could be better. When searching and looking at things to do I didnt take a close look at what the bridge was made of or looked like in detail. Comet line 4/5 fun - 1/5 not Including access to bridge and walks. $40 + $25 for photos and videos. Tandem Comet line and it was fun. Interesting to be one behind the other and not next to each there. Definitely could be longer and definitely could be faster. $25 extra for a flash drive with the photos and videos seemed expensive though especially if you paid for the other thing. Gold panning 3.5/5 Sand flies 1/5 Unfortunately we did not get told about the sand flies when we arrived. We were covered head to toe in them when we went to the area to do this activity. Went and brought some bug spray from the front desk ($25) and this only kept them away for a few minutes. The activity itself was really fun but as I only got to do it for a very small amount of time it has become the worst thing I have done in years. As we left we mentioned about how bad the experience was and that the bug spray did an aweful job and we really didnt do much panning because of the sand flies and his comment was "yeah they are quite bad this time of year" and didnt really care at all. We were just another person who had already paid. If you do go, there is some enjoyment in some of the activities but 100% do not go anywhere near the gold panning, and take good bug repellent.

Unexpected cost of 25 nzd to walk across. But the other side has over an hour of beautiful hiking to a beach and waterfall along with epic jungle views. It's worth the cost, especially because few people leave the main trail.

Awesome place woth amazing view. Very friendly staff who even waited for us to arrive as we were running a little late. Highly recommended

What an adventurous place to visit!! The experience of the bridge walk is tremendous. A bit scary but feels fun once you done it. The walk around the island is amazing as you pass many amazing spots as the river beach and the big tree. You can watch a lot of birds around there. The bridge walk and the island walk is not expensive. You can do extra activities like zip liner with an extra payment. There is a small cafe and toilets inside and a plenty of parking available there.

It was fun to go across the bridge, but there were a lot of little bugs on the other side that were biting our legs so beware. Not much to do on the other side other than a walk with some old historic mining equipment. you could also pay extra to go on the speedboat or the zip line.

Just used their Shuttle service from Lyell to Seddonville while doing the Old Ghost Road. Fantastic service, they were waiting for us at the Lyell Carpark, took our photo as we left then drove our vehicle to Seddonville. Great value, highly recommended.

Great transfer of two cars for us from Lyell to Seddonville while we walked The Old Ghost Road. Handled our EV fine. Brought our cars up to The Rough & Tumble Lodge for us on our final day so they were there for us when we came off the track. Great to get immediate access to dry clothes!

Great service and very convenient for Old Ghost Rd transfers. Chris and Steph were very friendly and even phoned the local pub to let us know that the next track we were heading to was closing due to a landslip. They even told us their secret home made bug repellent recipe! p.s. Encourage Chris to one day complete the Ghost Rd!

Have to give 5/5 review for Steph and Chris. Very responsive communication, prompt arrival, just lovely people doing their bit to help others. Thank you so much.

Steph and Chris provided us a wonderful service by meeting us at Old Coast Road Trail end in Seddonville and transporting us to the start of the track at Lyell. My queries were responded to quickly, communication was excellent, they were so obliging, friendly and knowledgeable. Even gave us an old gold sluice pan as a momentous. Many thanks you guys we appreciated your service. Malcolm Rough and Wendy Shanks, Gisborne

Excellent service from Hikenbike Shuttles. We left our car at the end of the Old Ghost Road and they took us to the beginning. We arrived a bit early but they saw us drive past so came early. The service was very friendly (we had the owner himself. Asked if we needed to stop anywhere on the way and recommended the Berlin Cafe in the Buller gorge as a good place for breakfast. Very nice. he also supplier sandfly repellent, something we had overlooked. Would highly recommend them. Next time we would use their car relocation service and save 4 hours of driving for only a little more cost.

Great communication, punctual, and accommodating shuttle provider (Picked me up from OGR trail end to Lyell). Appreciate that they made sure my car at Lyell started before leaving.

Best 5 day tramp yet, great variety of terrain, beautiful native forest flora & fauna. Birdsong +++, very friendly This Robins, Tomtits & saw or heard most every native bird there is. Fungi fiesta! Huts comfortable, lovely & warm with fire going. Wild & mighty rivers!

For day trippers- highly recommend doing the loop of Lyell walkway - Old Ghost Road. Easy access from the upper carpark, past the old cemetery, across the river bridge and then reverse back along the old ghost road trail to the lower carpark. This old mining track is well maintained and used by hikers and cyclists.

Incredible area with stunning views, wildlife and history!! Lovely huts, and well maintained track.

Fantastic 5-day walk on Old Ghost Road. The terrain is not very difficult and well maintained as it's suitable for cycling. There are some long days with high kms though, so some ability to walk 18-25 km per day is required. I'm not sure I would cycle this trail in its entirety as there are some narrow, steep and rocky sections with scary drop offs and even a stairs sections where you need to carry your bike. For confident mountain bikers only, probably. Scenery was amazing. The huts were luxurious and equipped. I recommend this hike or cycle trail!

This trail takes you through the finest landscapes in New Zealand, It is such an incredible experience! The 28km from Lyell through lush bush opens up at the top with mind-blowing views across vast, unspoilt landscapes. The huts are immaculate, warm, well-stocked & maintained. The amount of work has been huge and continues with improvements like the recent bypassing of the stairs, such a blessing for mountain bikers. This is a genuinely world-class trail, make sure you don't rush through it!!

Amazing hike through magical beech forrest, stunning ridge lines and mountainsides. The hut facilities were above expectations and toilets well maintained and clean (love composting ones!). Well graded trails for walking just be mindful of mountain bikers approaching. Two semi fit 70+ year olds we took enjoyed it! Lots of water along track depending on recent rains. $160 pp for up to 4 nights, bunk rooms vary by hut but everyone very welcoming and shared cooking facilities. Even a trickle shower available. Outdoor sleep outs good option for family or couples but not heated/no cooking - can use main hut facilities!

Superb walk, easy grades, spectacular exposure and great views. Excellent huts with lots of interesting points all through the hike. Great achievement to put this track through pristine country. It's a long walk but as it's built for bikes it's easy going.

Wow - what an amazing experience we had today on the Grey Wilderness raft tour. It went beyond all our (rather high) expectation. The nature we paddled through was inexplicably beautiful, and the river delivered just the right amount of action for our group (of 3 generations). Nathan is an excellent guide: knowledgeable, fun to be around and a very skilled rafter. Easily in the absolute top of experiences on our 1 month trip around NZ!

Our group of 7 had a superb trip on the Upper Grey river with Josh , Kacey and Mila . Nathan had been great organizing our trip according to water levels . We were superbly catered for by our professional guides who looked after all our needs both on and off the water . Food was amazing . Highly recommend if you want to experience some true kiwi adventure and unspoilt scenery .

My family and I did the Arnold Family Raft 1/2 Day Tour with Nathan and it exceeded all expectations. It was my children's (11, 10 and 6 years) first exposure to white water rafting and it was perfect. Nathan was so clear on what to expect and made it fun for the whole family. He regularly checked in with the kids to make sure they felt comfortable and we all had a blast. Nathan took us rafting, let us go for a dip in the water and even fed us and gave us a warm drink at the end of the day. Would highly recommend Inland Adventures.

Just returned from an awesome 4 days rafting the Waiau River with Nathan (AKA Reefton), Simon (AKA Chunk) and Samson, Quinn and Bree as our guides. What a team they made! So much experience being shared with younger, newer guides = great to watch. It was a super adventure down a truly stunning part of S Island. The journey was full of amazing views, gorges, rapids, mountains and a few surprises. The food was really delicious (& plentiful). We felt safe, valued and entertained throughout the full 4 days and would highly recommend this expedition for any adventurous travellers. Thanks Nathan et al.

My experience with the employees: Joey: a true kiwi bushman, as quick and deft with a blade when cooking dinner at camp as is his sharp witted humor. Not only is he engaging in intellectual conversation, he is also great with kids making him an all rounder for family trips. 10/10 raft guide and outdoor instructor.

We had an amazing 2 day experience with the Inland Adventures team in early 2023. We had a wide range of fitness, experience and ages involved and the team were incredibly supportive and made sure everyone enjoyed the rafting and the environment. We all felt safe and the food was incredibly good! It was such a good experience and I can't wait to go again.

Nathan and his amazing team led us on an unforgettable pre-Christmas expedition down the Waiau-Uwha. A must-do trip for anyone who loves rivers, rocks, and the stunning beauty of the remote high country. Professional guides and all-around top people.

This is a modern museum, that children will be fascinated with as well. We only had 1 hour to spend which wasn’t enough. It is a place you must see when visiting Westport. Well done to everyone who has contributed to its design.

What a great museum! Full of great exhibits and loads of information about the rich mining history on the west coast. There is a mine exhibit you can go into and watch a neat video showing the old mine operations. We spend about an hour here but you could spend a bit longer if you read everything. Adults $10, children under 5 are free. If you are visiting Westport make sure you pop in here and brush up on the history.

a lot of reading to find our more about the history of mining on the coast. some really interesting machinery on display, but all in all a bit disappointed by lack of exhibits. the video is fascinating and worth a watch. The counter staff were really amazing and helpful however. knowledgeable, friendly and patient. if there was a way to give them an independent five star review I would totally be doing that.

This is the 2nd Pounamu Pathway I've done. This one pulled together some of the local mines I had visited, so I found the display and information informative and definitely worth the visit. A good insight into the history of the region. Would have been nice to pull more Maori history.

Very informative and well presented museum! Well worth the visit. Go to Denniston after the museum. Interesting and amazing views!

We braved the bridge, not for the faint hearted or scared of heights, remembering you've got to get back the same way! There are walking tracks with historical info to do whilst you prepare for your return trip.

Very cool walk in the forest. Great part of history

We loved this experience! We were the only two booked onto our tour so it was like a private tour. The train ride at the start is beautiful. The caves are really amazing with lots of formations to see up close. The glow worm cave is really big and is a magical experience. We really enjoyed tubing down the river too. Thank you to Jet for being a great guide. There was a QR code to access lots of photos taken afterwards and you get some printed too. 100% recommend this experience!

Our caving tour with Underworld Adventures was absolutely unforgettable! This experience is perfect for those who are fit and ready for a unique underground adventure. Our guide, Tess, shared fascinating information about the caves and the surrounding area. Exploring the caves was both thrilling and awe-inspiring, with incredible rock formations and stunning glowworms that lit up the darkness like a starry sky—simply sensational! The tubing at the end of the tour was a fun and exciting way to wrap up the experience. If you’re up for a bit of a challenge and an unforgettable journey through one of nature’s hidden wonders, this is the tour for you! Highly recommend! 🌟🦇🌿💦

Jet was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the system. He definitely made the adventure! Would definitely do it again. Awesome site for the glow worms, history and geology!

Our tour was one of the highlights of our South Island time!! We really enjoyed this caving and rafting tour. Our guide Jess did an amazing job leading us through the cave, pointing out different formations along the way. She gave a ton of great info about the cave history, glowworms, and area history as well! We had a blast and learned a lot. The rainforest train was also lovely. I definitely recommend you grab a pie and coffee in their café after your tour.

Good place. Clean material, potos not bad, but can be better. The experience it's amazing itself. The instructors are really kind, they explain everything and always are close to you, in the cave is amazing the experience and the blue sly looks just like the paradise. The rafting on the river is easy and funny. Highly recommend

My English isn't good enough; I didn't understand anything the guild was saying. But I could still feel their passion. The place is absolutely stunning, and the rafting, although fast, is well worth it! The café staff are friendly, and the view is magnificent. I highly recommend it; it's an activity you absolutely must do.

This place was an unexpected surprise, all the time I've driven this road and I never realized there was a little railway here that runs into the rainforest. Sadly I arrived too late to catch the train but was told that I was more than welcome to walk the track up to the caves, so I made a donation and away i went on my own little reenactment of 'Stand by me'! Some awesome country up here, some of the cliffs and overhangs are quite mindblowing and the swing bridge where I eventually turned back for home is also a spectacular little spot. I'm claustrophobic and can't swim so didn't do the cave tours or rafting but the feedback i heard was also very good. 😃 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Unexpectedly nice, short walk to a lovely, small, non-crowded beach. You have the opportunity to take a small waterfall-shower (; Right next to the Punakaiki Rocks, worth the time!

It’s a lovely little walk to the coast and it has some amazing views, well worth a quick stop off

Easy walk, beautiful views, lots of native birds, highly recommended walk

Fantastic walk....Beach at the end of this Scenic track!! Memories ❤️❤️

Beautiful walk. Easy access and lovely panoramic views.

A short walk to a stunning piece of coastline. Not to be missed while you are in the area.

STOP your car! Get out and walk down this beautiful track to the beach. It is definitely worth it. Overhanging cliff faces, smooth polished stones, crashing waves and a blow hole at high tide.

Stunning scenery and the bike only sections are really great, well worth the suggested $10 per day per person we paid. Unfortunately there are long stretches of joint use road from Kapitea Reservoir up to the first dam on the canal, the surface is being ruined by heavy 4x4 vehicles and quad bikes, we saw several on our trip. I bet they pay nothing to use these roads and it would be great if like other cycle trails in NZ motorised traffic is managed by locked gates.

Unreal trip!! Great people throughout.. would highly recommend

Awesome

Good

Food was amazing as well as the 6 paddle off beers. Well worth trying. Very cozy atmosphere and the food came out quickly.

Exceeded expectations. Service was quick, yet friendly. Food was fabulous. Fries were exceptionally memorable. Thick, crispy outside and fluffy inside.

Monteith’s Brewery is a fantastic spot to visit, even if you’re not there for the drinks. The food was excellent - fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. There’s a great variety on the menu, and everything we tried was cooked perfectly. The location is lovely, with a warm and relaxed atmosphere that makes it perfect for both families and groups of friends. It’s a great place to unwind, enjoy a good meal, and take in the surroundings. Highly recommend stopping by if you’re in the area - it’s a memorable experience for the food and setting alone!

The best place to eat in Greymouth without doubt. It's colourful and lively and every dish we've tried was excellent. The service is prompt, this visit was a highlight of our West Coast visit.

Great beer tasting, however food is not good enough! Everything is too salty!!

My wife and I did the Monteith's Brewery Tour and stayed on afterwards for a meal. The tour was very good. It was interesting to learn about the history of the brewery, and it was great to get to pour and taste some of the beers. Our guide was really entertaining and knowledgeable too, which made the experience even better. The meal afterwards was first-class. The service was spot-on, and the food was excellent. Thank you Monteith's for such a great experience...on such a wet and windy day in Greymouth :)

We did the brewery tour with Toni and she was awesome! It ended up being only myself and my partner doing it and she gave us advice on different beers to try along with local knowledge of events on over the weekend we were visiting. Totally recommend 👌 she's awesome at her job

Awesome activities with kids, mine were ages 12, 14 & 16 and all were entertained and enjoyed themselves, the gold panning was the highlight as well as playing around with the prison and reading the orewa hospital medicines. 100% highly recommended. A bit pricy for the whole experience $145 but worth it for all 5 of us.

We came on a busy day as they had a tourism convention going on, so parking was hard to find (this is not normal). We had a great time stepping back in time and walking around the town. There is a cafeteria for lunch or a snack /coffee etc and if you have a letter to post, if you take it with you, you can have it postmarked from Shantytown. There is a train ride you can take and the guide is very knowledgeable about the history. He operated an old sluice to demonstrate how they used to fire water at the rock they wanted to mine for. After that, the optional $10 per person will give you an opportunity to pan for Gold and you are given excellent instructions on how to do this. A great place to take the whole family! If you're going to do panning, allocate 2-3 hours minimum for this visit.

You can’t miss this place when visiting the West Coast! You can ride the steam train, revisit the past at the museum, have some coffee and food, try to get lucky and pan for gold, or hang out at the playground. Locals can get a great deal with an annual ticket ☺️👌🏽 Awesome place to come with kids.

Having lived in greymouth for the first 30 years of my life. I have visited many times. It has changed a lot. Definitely worth visiting at least once. Train rides three times a day. Open 7 days. There is a café also. Gold panning is available for $10 per person. Panning is part of the train ride. Getting gold from panning is garunteed. At the time of typing this review, gold is $7000 for a teaspoon( one ounce) of gold. So, the $10 fee for panning is well worth it.

Absolutely loved it, make sure to come early to give yourself time to walk around, lots o d history, steam train was an exciting experience and I loved the uniqueness of the town. Don’t know what all the negative reviews are for, I came when there was no costume actors around and I think they have done a wonderful job at showing the history. The lady in the front is also very kind and sweet. Highly recommend coming here if you love history

Not what i expected, I have been to some great well maintained heritage villages and this is not one if them. Gives you a very basic insight into the past from a museum built 54 years ago and not maintained. Dirty dusty and dark, could do with a spring clean better lighting and more props.

Fun place for children! Lovely train experience here!

An awesome shop to support the local artists. As an ads Accredited tour guide, I’ve driven pass this city many times but never had the chance to go in. Now I do. Lots of interesting things to sell, price tags are high. I suppose the rent in Hokitika isn’t much as such big shop wouldn’t exist in Auckland. Hope that this shop can survive in this Covid global pandemic.

A nice gallery with many beautiful crafting.

Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous! This gallery is quite special and is deserving of a visit. Loved chatting to the owner....interesting and very talented.

A fantastic gallery run by Juergen Schacke and his wife Monika featuring Juergen's stunning photos and local crafts. They have recently taken over the Craft Gallery next door and both offer riches of local art and crafts, an absolute treat!

While on holiday at the moment, I brought my husband's birthday gifts here a few days ago and the selection of quality items for sale were stunning, and beautifully displayed. I was most impressed with the lovely lady serving who did not rush me to make a decision, was very helpful and she gift wrapped my purchases really nicely. I left incredibly happy, thank you for a delightful shopping experience.

Thanks for the no pressure and supportive approach to our purchase Juergen and Monika. What a cool place you have - our best wishes to you for your future.

The shop is always full of colour & art that reflects, the rugged west coasts terrain and the sunsets, colours that are unlike anywhere. Warm welcome smile as you walk in the door from the host. Our days off we come to Hokitika from Moana.

Absolutely awesome beach! Clean sand, clear water, and a super relaxing vibe. The sunset was stunning and the whole atmosphere felt peaceful and refreshing. A perfect spot to unwind — loved every moment ☺️

Hokitika’s beach is rugged and beautiful, lined with rocks, crashing waves, and plenty of driftwood shaped by the sea. The highlight is the famous “HOKITIKA” driftwood sign, a creative landmark and a must-stop photo spot. Walking along the sand, you’ll find driftwood scattered everywhere and may even try spotting pounamu (greenstone), treasured by the Māori as a protective stone. It feels like a small treasure hunt, adding charm to the stroll. We also noticed locals arranging wood and stones into messages like “HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025,” giving the beach a creative, personal touch. The best moment comes at Sunset Point, where people gather to watch the sun sink into the Tasman Sea. The driftwood letters glow golden, the sky turns deep orange, and the atmosphere feels calm yet unforgettable. A must-visit stop on New Zealand’s West Coast.

Sign needs fixing but still nice stop. War pillbox was even better to see.

Such a cute set up of the sign, beautiful to have some food in the car park or sit on the rocks and enjoy the scenery.

Amazing, magical Oceanside village! Visited in the winter.

Cane early but wish I saw sunset. Cool sign.

Enjoyed our visit, we had a beautiful sunny day. Nice little town to walk round and visit the many stores. Loved the beach.

This is a place where you can walk while looking at the great view from high trees. It is a place where you can walk along the course made at the top of the tree (about 25 meters high). If you go up a little past the ticket booth, you will see the tree top walking starting point, and it takes about 20 minutes to look around the entire course. The course is not long, but you can see the great view from high up and see various birds in nature. (It is not easy to find or see.) There is an observation deck at the midpoint of the course, and if you go up to this observation deck, you can see the sea across the forest. Overall, the great view and the unique experience of walking on a tree top are great, but since these courses are 25 meters high, the installed bridge shakes a little every time you walk, so if you have a fear of heights, I recommend you think again, and you do not necessarily need a reservation for this experience. There is no problem even if you just go without a reservation.

We got a deal online, so ticket price was halved, so we did zipline & walkway combo. All the staff were SUPER helpful and friendly. Zipline was fun and felt very safe with all the checks .

We had a great time here. Very quiet as out of weekend/holiday so cannot comment on how it would be the other side of that coin! Clearly signposted from the highway, Friendly and helpful staff. The walk was great, lots of education along the way if you can handle the heights for long enough! Climbing the tower was great too with exceptional views, we even timed it to watch some people do the Zipline (which looks awesome by the way, next time!!). Would very much come back and my girlfriend who has vertigo, enjoyed it too.... The walkway was as solid as you could hope and she appreciated conquering her fears enough to experience being within the tree canopy. Well worth the trip and money

It'd be better on a clear day but a foggy forest isn't too bad. Quite pricey for a walk but the staff were friendly and overall felt very safe.

Amazing views from the platforms. I climbed into the tower and it was breathtaking. Son did the Zipline and said it was fantastic.

Absolutely fantastic Views and great experience Bit expensive for a walk but definitely enjoyed the experience

Absolutely brilliant experience. My 75 year old mother and I took part in our first zip line experience. Matthew was lovely, and brilliant at explaining the process, and gave us very clear instructuons..... the whole experience was an absolute joy, and my mother loved it. Tea and cake at the cafe topped off a wonderful morning. A huge thanks to all staff!