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Town in West Coast, New Zealand
Photo: Aaron Rees, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Hokitika (local English pronunciation "hoke-uh-TICK-uh"), gateway to the South Westland World Heritage National Park, is on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.
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The famous driftwood sign.
A private tourism business - not "national" in the sense of being affiliated with the government. Visit this kiwi centre and aquarium to see kiwi, tuatara, giant eels, many native and exotic fish, along with turtles and frogs.. There are also activities to participate in - feeding the giant eels, catch and release of 'crawlies,' a children's room with lots of books and toys, & displays and video about the kiwi and other creatures. At 10:00am, 12:00 noon, and 3:00pm it's feeding time for the 100 year old eels, sport fish, and kiwi, with an informative talk about these amazing creatures.
Volunteer run museum, with large machines in working order including sawmill engines, fire engines and tractors.
This dell is best visited at night; you'll be surrounded by sparkling glowworms. They're about a minute walk in from the road, and while the path is dark, using a bright torch will make some of the glowworms turn off. The light of a phone screen is totally enough to see by.
Some thirty minutes away from the town by car. Cross a swingbridge over stunning blue waters, on the 15 minute walk through forest to a viewing platform.
Beautiful lakes that offers opportunity for a number of water sports, several picnic spots, a camping area, and numerous short walks.
A multi-step waterfall.
A good place for camping, picnicking, walking and water based activities.
Housed in a striking former Carnegie public library, the Museum closed for seismic strengthening in September 2019, and is expected to reopen in late 2020–early 2021. Until the strengthing work starts, a small display on the history of the building is sometimes open.
Seddon House
An imposing neoclassical Roman Catholic church built between 1914 and 1928. The building has been closed since 2012 due to earthquake risk.
Annual food festival, serving foods that range from the benign to the absolute wildest: paua titties (roe), bull, lamb and goat testicles, that you could consider. Usually held in March.
Walk along a 450 m-long steel platform at tree-top height (20 m off the ground).
Bike and kayak hire beside the West Coast Wilderness Trail, and a scenic riverboat cruise on the Mahinapua Creek. Also offers cottage B&B accommodation.
You can design and carve your own piece in jade, bone or paua.
A steep track to the open tussock peak of Mt. Tuhua; 7 hrs to hike there and back.
Hut has magnificent views overlooking Lake Kaniere. There are 4 bunk beds available.
Chinese food.
Won New Zealand's best toastie award in 2019.
Older style motel units with shared kitchen and bathroom - keys to be collected from Annabelle Motel, 214 Weld Street.
From NZ$115–180, including continental breakfast.
Buy socks, woollen yard and sock knitting machines. There is also a free museum of sock knitting machines.
Watch them make beautiful pieces of glass and then make a few purchases at the Hokitika Glass Works.
Supermarket.
Small supermarket.
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Regional · HKK
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