Hokitika Activities and Attractions
Hokitika has much to offer, whether you are here for business, on holiday or visiting your whanau, Hokitika is a Cool Little Town. There are many local artists, exhibiting their own hand crafted works. Bars, cafés and restaurants are plentiful, offering a great variety. Whether it's Fish and Chips on the beach or fine dining, the choice is yours. Top off a great day with an evening stroll along the beach and enjoy watching our magnificent sunsets at Sunset Point.
Drive further afield and visit the magnificent Hokitika Gorge, Lakes Kaniere and Mahinapua, where you can enjoy swimming, water skiing, picnics and walkways. You can even have a meal at the iconic Mahinapau Hotel.
The West Coast Treetop Walk and Tower Zipline, located just south of Hokitika, is a great outing for all the family, and you can also enjoy a meal there at the Upperheights Café.
Keen cyclists pack your bikes, and ride the West Coast Wilderness Trail, this takes you from Greymouth to Ross. Enjoy the day out on your bike, then return to the comforts of home, at Annabelle Motel. Ask us about our relocation service using your own vehicle.
Base yourself at Annabelle and enjoy day trips to the Franz Josef Glacier, which is a 1 1/2 hour drive south, in the Westland National Park, or venture north to Punakaiki Pancake Rocks in the Paparoa National Park, a 60 minute drive.
Founded as a gold mining town back in the gold-rush days, Hokitika is famous for its pounamu (greenstone), whitebait, its mining history, and it’s sparsely populated wild scenery. But don’t just take our word for it. Come stay with us, and experience the beauty of the West Coast yourself!
West Coast Wilderness Cycle Trail
Now's the time to discover the last of the wild places and spin a yarn or two of your own, with one of the country's smoothest and most accessible cycle trails. On your bike you'll wind your way through ancient rainforests, along glacial rivers, around moody lakes and across some downright cracking wetlands. You can do it all at once – across four days – or just nab the odd day-trip. Either way, it's a fairly spectacular way to journey from the sea to the sea.
West Coast Tree Top Walk and Tower Zipline
A unique treetop adventure among temperate rainforest giants. Experience life with the birds high in the ancient rimu and kamahi tree canopy. Easy access for all to enjoy along a steel platform 20 metres high and over 450 metres long. Climb to the top of the tower 40 metres above the forest floor. Be inspired by a sensational vista of the majestic snow-capped Southern Alps, Lake Mahinapua and the Tasman Sea. Located just 15 minutes south of Hokitika.
The National Kiwi Centre
The National Kiwi Centre is situated in the heart of Hokitika in an undercover facility that provides viewing of kiwi in our nocturnal house that replicates their natural environment. During your visit you can take part in feeding the giant eels (10am, 12 noon and 3pm daily). The eels are approximately 85 to 100 years old. The kiwi also get fed after each eel feeding. You can view the tuatara, New Zealand's oldest living dinosaur.
The Gold Room
Westland's rich gold-mining story comes to life as beautiful gold nugget jewellery crafted from the locally found natural gold. Watch the in-house jeweller working with the unique and highly prized gold nuggets and flakes, preserving the unique raw forms from the earth. Hold one of the large, real gold nuggets in your hand and feel the amazing weight of gold, or purchase your own gold pan and try your luck! New Zealand gold designed jewellery, charms and chains to tempt you, the perfect memento of your holiday.
Hokitika Glass Studio
The Hokitika Glass Studio is a family business established in 1989. Glass-blowing skills originating in Sweden have been passed on and are now utilised by born and bred West Coasters. They have a large range of blown and freeform glassware. Their furnace holds 220kg of molten glass and is worked at temperatures of over 1100° Celsius. Items are made on stainless steel blow pipes and are shaped using various tools and wet newspaper. Visit their studio factory at 9 Weld St, Hokitika and view this amazing craft for yourself.
Bonz 'n Stonz
Interested in an experience which will last a life-time? Visit Bonz 'n Stonz Carving Studio & Gallery. Design and carve your own unique piece of jewellery or purchase a one of piece carved by a renowned local artist. Steve your tutor, will guide you through every step of the process.
Precision Helicopters
Precision Helicopter's West Coast Experience is an epic Hokitika must-do adventure. You don't want to miss this true and genuine tour while staying in the coolest little town on the West Coast. Hokitika offers true genuine adventures. The people are friendly and the place is wild, untamed and natural. Known for its rich gold, delicious whitebait and stunning Pounamu / Greenstone, you are bound to love the place. Jump aboard our helicopter to view numerous glaciers, learn about the history and look at the mind-blowing wild alpine wilderness hidden behind Hokitika.
TOURS DEPART FROM THE FAMOUS HOKITIKA GORGE
Traditional Jade Co
Traditional Jade is a locally owned small family business who are of Ngai Tahu descent. We have been operating Traditional Jade Co. since September 1998. The shop was first managed by parents Mark and Rima, then passed to their daughter, Caroline, in 2012. Her parents still help out or carve jade in the shop. Our family are life-long West Coasters. We offer top quality and affordable Jade/Pounamu/Greenstone carvings and sculptures. Visit our friendly, knowledgeable team, and see one of the biggest raw jade collections in New Zealand.
