BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND DIRECTIONS* WESTPORT RAILWAY PRESERVATION Soc, WESTPORT WARF
(please contact Soc. president: Mr Ray Fleming at 03 789 6877 to avoid disappointment)
Turn left after crossing the Buller Bridge to enter Westport and continue straight onto the warf.
Railway systems have always been vital to the coal industry, first bringing coal to the port of Westport for shipment and now taking it all the way through the main divide to Lyttleton.
The society's collection includes an early locomotive used on the Mt. Rochfort railway, rescued from a dumping place in the Buller river and restored.
Other exhibits include a three-wheeled hand-jigger, assorted rolling stock and a venerable diesel shunter.* COAL PLATEAU VIEW POINT, FAIRDOWN
From the warf follow the signs to SH 68, continue north for 10 minutes to the Pines Hotel.
From near the hotel there is an excellent view of the coal plateau from which most of the district's wealth has come.
A panel illustrates the geological formation of the coal measures and describes Haast's first discovery.
The giant coal trains of today can be seen from the adjacent railway crossing.* CONNS CREEK YARDS
Continue north to Waimangaroa, turn right on to the Denniston Road,
and turn off to the left just before it starts climbing.
The yards are about 2 km along a good metal road.
At the foot of the Denniston Incline, a panel describes the function of this most famous Buller coalfield feature.
Nearby stand a pair of Q wagons once used for loading and unloading other goods which arrived by rail.
It is possible to walk a series of stone-walled sidings up to Conns Creek.* DENNISTON LOOK OUT
Return to the Deniston Road and drive uphill for about 1.6 km to a pull-in area on the left.
From the 'mile log' up the Denniston Road is a good view of the entire incline which worked from 1880 till 1967.
Traces of the Koranui Incline across the river can also been seen.
Near the look out is a track through the bush thay gives access to the old Denniston-Waimangaroa Bridle Track, now a popular walkway.* DENNISTON SCHOOL
Continue on up to the historic site of Denniston township, turn right and look for the Information Center signpost.
The restored school does not only give views over the old township to the mountains and the sea beyond, but also offers a wealth of information on mines, settlement history and present-day sightseeing opportunities.
It is a short distance to the incline and Denniston Walkway in one direction, or to Burnett's Face and Coalbrookdale Walkways in the other.* GRANITY RESOURCE CENTRE
Return to Waimangaroa and continue up SH 67 north to Granity.
The centre is on the landward side of the road, just north of the railway crossing.
If you plan visiting contact Bob Bush at 03 782 8138.
The centre is housed in a building which also contains a set of historic coke ovens which once processed coal from mines at Millerton on the hill above.
Besides containing information on the area, past and present, it is near the foot of the Millerton Incline, parts of which are incorporated in a walkway, accesable from the Millerton road.
For the real energetic take the track next to the old cokes ovens and follow the incline.
Going through the tunnels is at your own risk but great fun.
BRING A TORCH.* MILLERTON LOOKOUT AND BATH HOUSE
Head north again through Granity and turn right up the road to Millerton.
As soon as the road flattens out after a steep climb at a three way fork follow the middle track, signposted: 'historic mine sites'.
Past the last private drive way (no.42) turn right up the gravel track and park.
'Porridge Hill' provides a view out over the township to the sea, the aerial ropeway and other points of interest.
The nearby shell of the old bath house gives an insight into the lives of the miners whose footsteps can be followed up a good track to the mine mouth and ropeway remains.* STOCKTON TOWN SITE
Continue up the sealed road past Millerton, passing under the working aerial cableway
and go uphill to the road junction.
In contrast to the other coal plateau towns, Stockton has virtually vanished.
Just the odd foundation and chimney show where it stood, while the abandoned swimming pool is a surprising discovery in the subalpine scrub.
A short distance along the road towards the coal plateau is the site of the workshop which served New Zealand's first electric railway stock.* NGAKAWAU
Return to SH 67 and continue north to Ngakawau.
The walkway is signposted to the right just before the Ngakawau River bridge.
Still important as the terminus of the coal aerial from Stockton and the railway from Westport, Ngakawau has builings and equipment associated with both.
It is also at the bottom end of the historic and scenic Charming Creek walkway, which starts beyond Seddonville.* SEDDONVILLE HOTEL
Carry on up SH 67 as it swings inland up the Mohikinui Valley.
Just before it crosses the river branch right to Seddonville.
The site of the Buller District's first coal mine and once the northernmost destination for coal trains, Seddonville is the last stop on this Heritage Trail.
Access to the Charming Creek Walkway is further on.
Nearby is the Chasm Creek Walk, incorporating an old railway formation, tunnel and bridge with fine river views.
The hotel has information on both.
for the full picture visit:
