There are a list of reasons why I took a shine to Hokitika ………

Having a rest at Shining Star

Shining Star beachfront accommodation – It was camping with the animals that appealed to me – Highland cattle, alpacas, ducks, and a goat. A visiting free range rabbit made it an Old MacDonald’s Farm of sorts without the noisy sound track. We parked the caravan on a grassy site but there’s also log style accommodation (some of it beachfront).

Log cabin style accommodation

A beach to yourself – Shining Star is next to a driftwood strewn beach that you may get to yourself, particularly in moody weather. The town sits near the sea though so there’s plenty of opportunity to find a patch of sand.

Driftwood on the beach next to Shining Star

Glow worm dell – opposite Shining Star on State Highway 6. Take a short walk down a well made track to see the night light show, torch required.

Hokitika Gorge – a turquoise gem in Hokitika’s crown. The water colour at Hokitika Gorge is weather dependent, but what we saw in advertising photos we found on arrival – a slow moving, striking, turquoise river. The colour is the result of rock flour, melted ice and minerals from ancient glaciers. It’s a short, easy walk to both the viewing platform and swing bridge. (The gorge is approximately 33km from town. It’s a short detour to Lake Kaniere and various walking tracks).

Hokitika Gorge

Good eats – Stella Cafe & Cheesery and Fat Pipi Pizzas, both on Revell Street.

Stella Cafe & Cheesery, Revell Street

Fat Pipi Pizzas, Revell Street

Unusual Hokitika 
Sock World & Sock Knitting Machine Museum, 75 Revell Street
There’s a whole lot of cranking going on in Hokitika. Cranking is a term used by many in the sock making world to refer to hand turning the crank on a sock machine. At Sock World you can see a collection of antique sock machines and buy a pair of hand cranked socks ($35). Keen to get cranking? Ask about the NZ Auto Knitter.

Antique sock making machines

Hand cranked socks for sale

Unusual Letter Boxes – an outboard motor and SpongeBob SquarePants collect the mail in Hokitika. (More curious and creative letter boxes in NZ).

SpongeBob in Hokitika

Outboard motor letter box in Hokitika