Reefton is a small inland town beside the Inangahua River in the West Coast region of New Zealand. With a population of 1,000, it is the 4th biggest town on the West Coast.

Understand

Reefton

The town got its name after veins of gold were found in a quartz reef in the 19th century. Gold mining and coal mining have been major industries in the area. The Reefton hydroelectric power station came into operation in 1888 and the town became the first in the Southern Hemisphere to have a public electricity supply.

• 1 i-SITE Visitor Centre, 67–69 Broadway. Information for visitors. (updated Dec 2018)

Get in

It is 77 km (1 hr) north-east of Greymouth on State Highway 7, and also 77 km (1 hr) south-east of Westport.

Get around

You can walk through the town.

See

• 1 Black's Point Museum, Franklyn St, Blacks Point (2 km east of Reefton on SH 7). Open from Labour Weekend to Easter. (updated Dec 2018)
• 2 Hale Gallery & Reefton Gallery, 29A Broadway. (updated Dec 2018)
• 3 Miners Hut & the Bearded Mining Company, 67–69 Broadway. Daily 11am-4pm. See how gold miners lived and worked in the 1860s. (updated Dec 2018)
• Reefton Distilling Co., 10 Smith St. Daily 10AM-4PM. (updated Dec 2018)
• Reefton School of Mines. Times by arrangement with i-SITE. Has a mineral collection. Adult $2. (updated Dec 2018)

Do

• Bottled Lightning Powerhouse Walk. 40 min loop from i-SITE Visitor Centre over a footbridge across the Inangahua River to the remains of the historic Reefton Power Station, which started operation in 1888. Continue on Rosstown Rd to the main road bridge back to town. (updated Dec 2018)
• Reefton Cinema, Shiel St. (updated Dec 2018)
• Reefton Swimming Pool, The Strand. Heated to 28 degrees. (updated Dec 2018)
• Reefton Walkway. 40 min walk from the upper end of Broadway up the hill to views of the town. Come down via Bridges St and you'll pass the historic Court House and Oddfellows Hall. (updated Dec 2018)
• Rollerpark, The Strand. Open to skateboards, BMXs and rollerblades. (updated Dec 2018)
• Trout fishing. (updated Dec 2018)

Eat

• Alfresco's Eatery & Pizzeria, 16 Broadway. Daily. (updated Dec 2018)
• Broadway Tearooms and Bakery, 31 Broadway. Daily 6:30am-5pm. (updated Dec 2018)
• Reefton Foursquare, 47 Broadway. Daily 8am-7pm. Grocery store. (updated Dec 2018)
• Reefton Supervalue, 65 Broadway. Grocery store. (updated Dec 2018)

Drink

• Dawson's Hotel, 74 Broadway. Daily from 11am. Dining. Has motel accommodation behind the hotel. (updated Dec 2018)
• Hotel Reefton, 75 Broadway. Daily. (updated Dec 2018)
• Wilson's Hotel, 32 Broadway, ☏ +64 37328800. Tu - Su. Historical mining pub with basic accommodation, pool, drinks and great meals. Good reviews about the roast and lamb shanks. (updated Dec 2018)

Sleep

• Alfresco Historic Villas, 16 Broadway. (updated Dec 2018)
• 1 Bellbird Motel, 93 Broadway. Seven units, a cottage and a villa. The site, and especially the villa, is on the corner of the highways, so trucks may be rumbling past in the night. From $90 (1 person), $105 (2 ppl). (updated Dec 2018)
• CS Accommodation, 3 Racecourse Rd. (updated Dec 2018)
• Lantern Court Motels, 63 Broadway. (updated Dec 2018)
• No. 10 Blacks Point, Blacks Point. (updated Dec 2018)
• Old Nurses Home Guesthouse, 104 Shiel St. Single ($70), double or twin ($90 for two) and shared bathrooms, and double apartment with en suite ($150 for two). (updated Dec 2018)
• Quartz Lodge Bed & Breakfast, 78 Shiel St. (updated Dec 2018)
• Reef Cottage Bed & Breakfast, 55 Broadway. (updated Dec 2018)
• Reefton Hideaway, 20 Crampton Rd. (updated Dec 2018)
• Reefton Motor Camp, The Strand. (updated Dec 2018)
• Reefton Railway Historic Cottage, 24 Hattie St. (updated Dec 2018)

Go next

• Greymouth
• Westport