Waiuta, the town on top of the South Island’s richest gold mine, was always regarded by its people as a good place to be.

Waiuta, even now as a ghost town, can still offer a variety of activities. Mountain backed scenery, varied vegetation, building remains and gold mining relics provide plenty of scope for nature lovers, historians and photographers while various roads and tracks make interesting walks and bike rides.

Take the 21km drive on Highway 7 south of Reefton. The Waiuta turn off is marked by a big brown sign that you can’t miss. From there the first 9kms to Blackwater is sealed. The remaining 8kms is unsealed, narrow and winding, but well maintained.

Waiuta is identified as a Tohu Whenua heritage site, and is part of a network of sites which tell important stories of New Zealand history. See more on the Tohu Whenua website.

https://tohuwhenua.nz/

For further information call into the Reefton Visitor Centre.

Explore Reefton Further

Getting Here Reefton is centrally located at the hub of state highway access into the Coast, north from Murchison, Nelson and Blenheim and east from Christchurch.

Our History The town of Reefton was established in 1870 and was immediately a prosperous place. In August 1888, it became the first place in New Zealand to have a public supply of electricity, even before London or New York.

Events Whether you're in Reefton for a day, overnight, a week or even more, there's always something exciting happening here. Find out more about our events and other things to do during your stay.