At Mitchell’s Gully Goldmine, 20 minutes south of Westport, I received the most concise description of gold extraction I’ve heard yet, it was worth visiting just to hear it.

Walk through some tunnels

Mitchell’s Gully is a family owned mine, a sign says it was last worked in 1914, I didn’t get the chance to ask whether the family still chip away at it, I’d be tempted if it was in my backyard.

You need a torch to go in this shaft

You can walk around the mine site at your leisure and enter the shafts and tunnels, you also get to hold a heavy handful of gold. Take a torch if you’ve got one, mind your head and don’t think about accidents waiting to happen.

Remains of a stamper battery and water wheel at Mitchells Gully Goldmine

There’s a tourism design award hanging at the entrance from 1978, so the mine has been welcoming visitors for years. The bush is taking the opportunity to reclaim its territory and it makes the site that much more visually appealing.

The bush is taking over

Entry to Mitchell’s Gully Goldmine is $10 adults, children free. Allow at least 20 minutes to explore. The cute tree house in the car park is free for kids big and small.

Cute tree house

Coastal highway
The drive 38km south to Punakaiki is stunning – a forest dotted with Nikau palms follows you on one side, on the other the Tasman Sea hammers into rocky bays.

Forest fringed highway

Rocky bays along the way

You’ll find a table with a view along the way. Weka are a common sight in the area, Mike befriended one when we made a photo stop.

Table with a view

Friendly weka

Weka

Punakaiki – Pancake Rocks and Blowholes
The Pancake Rocks are reason enough to put the brakes on in Punakaiki. The view is the most dramatic at high tide, the Information Centre opposite has high tide details. The noise of the sea and rocks meeting sounds like a pack of Harley’s thundering through Buller Gorge, and looks just as impressive.

Rainbow at Pancake Rocks

Blowhole at the Pancake Rocks

Pancake Rocks

I recently wrote that the person who identified the formations at The Labyrinth in Takaka must have been high on something other than life. They get the last laugh, I found a side view of Homer Simpson in a rock formation. Mike’s the Simpson’s fan and he can’t see him, can you? (see below). If you can’t find Homer you can still get a sea spray shower, spot the blow holes and enjoy the rainbows. Allow at least 30 minutes to walk the exceptionally well maintained track around the rocks.

Side view of Homer Simpson at Pancake Rocks?

Pancake Rocks

There’s reason to linger in Punakaiki, if you have time we recommend the Truman Track. It’s a short 15 minute walk through a forest of Nikau palms, Rata and Matai trees. It opens out to reveal a beach, from a distance the beach looks sandy but it’s actually made up of millions of tiny pebbles. Like the beaches all along this coast it’s not safe for swimming, but if you visit a couple of hours either side of dawn or dusk you might see little blue penguins.

What looks like sand is millions of pebbles

Pikopiko on the Truman Track