Have you ever heard of Murchison? Here is a trip from Nelson to Murchison and beyond where west meets wild New Zealand. A scenic route through a roll call of gold mining nineteenth century towns of Murchison, Buller Gorge and Reefton.
The holiday has options to fit the interests of families from adrenaline jet boating, exploring a bee hive or vigorous walks among 19th gold prospecting trails.
GREAT WEST COAST ROAD TRIP
Highlights
HOW TO USE THIS ROAD TRIP
This trip is part of the Great West Coast Road (West Coast, South Island) check the following sections for details. You can travel this section independently or part of a larger trip. The larger trip is from the top of the South Island, Nelson to the bottom of the South Island, Invercargill.
The road trip is suitable for motorhomes
Nelson to Murchison Route Map
State Highway 6 from Nelson to Murchison passing Brightwater, Wakefield, Murchison
185 km 2 ¾ hours
Explore sunny Nelson where foodie trails, heritage and scenery add to a glamorous bookend to a New Zealand holiday experience. Excitement builds as you start the journey on a backcountry iconic road trip State Highway 6.
Whistle stop photo moment at Brightwater and perhaps check out the wineries. It is Nelson after all with its well known wine trails. There are two heritage church’s worth a second look for those interested in New Zealand church architecture.
Brightwater highlights:
There is a story of the local member of Parliament sat on the railway lines, with her knitting in a failed attempt to keep the rail link open. Sonja would be pleased with the reimagined use of the tunnel and the opportunity of tourism to bring visitor dollars to the local economy.
At 1.4km long, Spooners is NZ’s longest decommissioned rail tunnel and the 5th longest tunnel open to cycling and walking in the world. Great Taste Trail: Wakefield to Kohatu Spooners Range tunnel is a shared tunnel with cyclists and walking enjoying the atmospheric historic tunnel.
The sweet taste of locally sourced honey. Stock up in the goodie bag for delicious toast. Nelson Honey New Zealand, Manuka Honey, Royal Nectar, Nectar Ease. Visit Nelson Honey for a live beehive viewing and processing factory.
From origins as a small one-man apiary on the outskirts of Nelson in 1900, Nelson Honey today is still a family owned business but has grown to become a significant employer at Motupiko.
“For more than 100 years the Cropp family have worked alongside nature, extracting honey delicately from honeycomb to bring you the finest quality product, direct from New Zealand’s own backyard.” … Nelson Honey is opposite the rustic Quinney’s Bush Camp.
Located at Kawatiri Junction at the intersection of SH6 and SH63, the tunnel is 35 km northeast of Murchison. There is an information shelter, picnic site and toilets beside the large parking area. At the Kawatiri junction wander to the river and there is the famous tea coloured water of the Southern Alps. It looks as though crystal clear water has had tea poured into the stream. Vegetation leeches tannin and favours the water with light bronze colours.
The Kawatiri Rail Tunnel is currently CLOSED to rock fall.
Murchison’s story and the Buller River and its tributaries are inextricably entwined. The Buller is 177 km in length originating in the Nelson Lakes National Park. Near Murchison the Buller River becomes a force to be reckoned with.
Murchison is where the wild meets the west coast. Murchison is an excellent introduction to a way of life governed by its mining legacy and the current relative isolation due to the Southern Alps.
Raft the legendary “Earthquake Rapids” – a classic New Zealand whitewater raft run though a stunning rain forest.
SIX MILE ELECTRICITY PLANT WALK
Discover a treasured piece of New Zealand’s economic history on a gravel road, off the beaten track waiting for visitors to respect the locals who came up with the idea of electricity…
In the forests surrounding Murchison is a natural burning fire constantly kept alight with escaping natural gas. Access is through private land and by guided tours only. Book tours at the local information centre.
The four-hour tour is a walk through the lush rainforest to the extraordinary sight of flames flickering on the forest floor.
Adventure Buller River style with a suspension swing bridge, a zipline and gold panning. Walk across New Zealand’s longest swing bridge. Crossing the white water magic of the Buller River, the swing bridge leads to an attraction park where you can pan for gold, learn about the gold mining heritage of the area and zipline across the Buller Gorge.
Want a view of the Buller Swing Bridge? The Buller Swing bridge is 110m in length and 19m above the Buller River. There is an admission fee to cross the bridge. For views of the Buller swing bridge turn onto New Creek Road and park…
BULLER GORGE SWING BRIDGE VIEWPOINT LOCATION
Driving to the Maruia waterfalls from Murchison towards Westport on SH6 stop at the Buller Bridge lookout point for views of the swing bridge and the Buller River.
An easy 10 minute walk from the carpark. (SH65). The waterfalls are the result of the 1929 Murchison earthquake which forced the Maruia Rivercut a new channel over an old river bank.
The 10 metre falls are easily accessible from SH65 and are only a short 5-minute walk from the roadside car park. The roar of water hitting the deep pools is background to the wide sweep of waterfalls easily visible from the track.
Base of the Maruia waterfalls, Murchison for the best spot for a selfie.
Murchison to Lyell Campgrounds is known as Upper Buller Gorge
Lyell Campgrounds to Westport is known as Lower Buller Gorge.
Awesome scenery, breathtaking with the narrow gorge creating a white water showpiece. This part of the road trip is about fabulous, glorious South Island scenery. For even jaded New Zealanders the road from Murchison through the Buller Gorge is one of the most beautiful in the country.
The Buller gorge flows through a deep canyon between Murchison and Westport. There are two sections to the gorge, Upper Buller Gorge and Lower Buller Gorge. State Highway 6 runs alongside the gorge through cut rock faces and the river is your companion.
There are stupendous moments where you are suspended between the river and the road.
The Buller River is a natural obstacle course offering authentic spins with the river mapping the way. The Buller River, flowing through narrow granite gorges the river boils and roars its way past Murchison. Unbeatable thrills. The standard jet boat ride duration is four hours through the Buller gorges. BULLER CANYON JET – Murchison is the only jet boat permitted to operate on the Buller River.
BULLER GORGE JET BOAT LOCATION
Tour agency: 34 Waller Street, Murchison 7191, New Zealand
Lyell – once a thriving town now a ghost town now a popular picnic and camping spot. The Lyell walkway (1 hr loop walk) explores gold mining relics and the evocative atmosphere of an abandoned cemetery. Lyell is the starting point of the ‘Old Ghost Road’ mountain biking and multi-day tramp.
Lyell Historic Reserve has ample parking, a Department of Conservation Campground, water and toilet facilities. The campsite has signposts to Lyell Cemetery…
The Iron Bridge – 1890 years ago to replace a punt – the stone wall where the punt used to tie up on its river crossing can be seen from the Murchison side of the bridge, upstream on the far bank.
Turn into New Creek Rd (no exit) to view the bridge and river. Bridge designation is SH6, 2820. The bridge is still in use as a single lane bridge crossing of the Buller River.
The road is suspended on its rocky base above the fast flowing river with the narrow winding road demanding the attention of the driver. For passengers it is an exhilarating section with the surging river water below and the sweep of dense bush up and around the road surface.
Look out for Kilkenny lookout and Hawkes Crag as dramatic highpoints of this section of the road. Your journey into Westport continues to follow the path of the Buller River.
For more information about Westport check Westport Guide what to do and see.
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