A visit to historic Waiuta near Reefton...
As I was saying in my last post I was on my way to visit the historic mining town of Waiuta on the West Coast of the South Island. Waiuta is about 20 kilometers south of Reefton on the road to Greymouth and up a side valley near Ikamatua.
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| Front entrance to Waiuta Lodge, Big River Historic Reserve |
Waiuta was the location of the most profitable gold mine in New Zealand which operated from the early 1930's right up to 1951. Over the twenty odd years of operation they removed over 750 000 ounces of gold from quartz reefs in the area. There was still workable gold in the area but a 1951 collapse of the ventilation shaft meant the mine closed down for good.
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| Silver Surfer parked outside Waiuta Lodge |
The town became a ghost town with only a couple of residents until the 1980's when the Friends of Waiuta started a campaign to make the old town a tourist attraction. Today there are several old cottages on location and a wealth of old mine relics to explore. One of the remaining buildings is the old hospital which has been converted into a DOC backcountry hut.
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| The rear of the Waiuta Lodge at Waiuta |
Waiuta Lodge is a fully self contained 24 bunk hut with many modern conweniences....it is located atop a low ridge to the south of the main town. The lodge has electricity and water pumped from a local well and has been lovingly maintained over the years by the Reefton DOC crew and Friends of Waiuta.
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| View from the front veranda at Waiuta Lodge |
There is a separate ablution block with toilets but also with hot showers which is unusual for a DOC hut. There are great views over the site of the old town from the lodge and there is a large grassy area around the lodge where additional tents could be set up for larger community groups and school parties.
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| Toilet and ablution block at Waiuta Lodge |
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| There are picnic tables next to Waiuta Lodge |
The living area is open with a large space for activities but there is a supply of folding tables and chairs which can be used when people are eating. The building has a lovely veranda around three sides with many benches to sit on so it is possible to sit outside and watch the weather roll through.
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| Waiuta Lodge: interior of the living area |
There are 24 bunks spread over three rooms with 4 bunks in one, 8 places on platforms in the middle and 12 in the largest room. All of these have either doors or curtains for privacy and they have electric lighting and windows in each space for natural light. They have those standard DOC mattresses but they are the older style not those plush new navy blue ones that you are starting to see in huts.
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| Waiuta Lodge: main bunk room... |
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| Waiuta Lodge: the middle bunkroom... |
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| Waiuta Lodge: the small bunkroom |
The area is rich with history so there are a number of interpretive panels, photos and notices around the lodge which gives you an idea of what the town looked like in its heyday. At one stage the town had a population of over 1200 people which is why it had a hospital...that would have been the same number as modern day Takaka and much bigger than modern Reefton...
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| Photo showing Blackwater Mine in the 1950's, Waiuta Lodge |
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| Waiuta Lodge: some history of the area... |
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| Memorial plaque inside the Waiuta Lodge |
The lodge has electric ovens, refrigerators, a wall mounted hot water device, electric jugs, toasters and a microwave. It has a full set of pots, cutlery and crockery for at least 30 people and electric heating as well as a centrally located pot bellied stove for heating.
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| Waiuta Lodge: the cookers and pot bellied stove... |
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| There are two refrigerators in Waiuta Lodge |
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| Waiuta Lodge has a full set of cooking pots, cutlery and crockery... |
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| Jon inside Waiuta Lodge on the first day... |
I stayed in the lodge for two nights and found the lodge warm and comfortable to stay at. We had no electricity the first day as a local farmer had accidentally cut the power to Waiuta but I got by as I had a gas cooker in the car. If there is no power the water will not work (pumped from an aquifer) but again I always carry supplies of emergency water in my car boot so I was fine.
It was certainly more comfortable once the power was working...you need a surprising amount of water each day just to stay hydrated and clean.
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| View from the Waiuta Lodge veranda towards the old mine |
They had limited coal for the pot belied stove and little dry wood so I replenished the wood box from a grove of standing dead manuka just over the boundary fence from the hut. Coal is a great heating material but you do need wood to get a bed of embers for it to burn on...
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| A blazing coal fueled stove for heat...Waiuta Lodge |
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| My tasty repast on the first night at Waiuta Lodge |
I spent two nights at the hut as it was raining far too heavily for me to accomplish my original plan of walking to Big River Hut. It absolutely hosed with rain for much of Thursday afternoon and also on Friday morning.
I was packed up and ready to head back to Christchurch on the Friday but luckily the power came on at 2 pm and since I had food and books to read I just decided to stay where I was for another night. I shared the hut that night with a couple from Blenheim and there are stories to tell about that experience but not on here...
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| We have power...Waiuta Lodge!!! |
I managed to get a few short walks in while I was there including a walk around the old town precinct, a short walk around the original mine sites and up to the Prohibition Mine site. You will see posts about these trips coming over the next week or so...
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| View of Waiuta from the Lodge.... |
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| Heavy rain sets in over Waiuta...from Waiuta Lodge |
I drove back via Lake Brunner and over Arthur's Pass in the rain and a little snow around Porters Pass. There were a lot of waterfalls flowing right up the Taramakau Valley....
I will be heading back to Waiuta to walk to Big River Hut either in late December or early January so look out for that trip. I would also like to take Karen to the Lodge as I think she might find it interesting but we will have to see how things go...
Access: From Reefton head south for 21 kilometers along SH 7 towards Greymouth. Turn onto Waiuta Road at Hukarere and follow Waiuta Road to the lodge.
Hut Details: Waiuta Lodge: Serviced, 24 bunks, wood burner, electric lights/heating/cooking, water from aquifer, wood shed, toilet/shower block
Miscellaneous: On the DOC hut booking system, must be booked for overnight visit. Close to the historic mining town of Waiuta. The Waiuta Road is a winding, narrow gravel road take care at all times.
