Shantytown Heritage Park Greymouth is one of the West Coast’s most iconic visitor attractions, bringing New Zealand’s gold rush history to life through interactive experiences, historic buildings, and immersive storytelling. Located just south of Greymouth, the park offers a hands-on journey into the West Coast pioneer days of the 1800s.
Explore this award-winning heritage park, with plenty to keep families, history lovers, and groups entertained for hours.
Visitor tip: Shantytown Heritage Park is open daily from 8.30am–5pm. Allow at least 90 minutes for exploring the attractions, a train ride, and gold panning experience.
👉 Plan Your Visit to Shantytown Heritage Park
Things to Do at Shantytown Heritage Park
Ride the Heritage Train
Take a scenic journey through lush native rainforest aboard one of Shantytown’s historic locomotives, travelling along the original Infants Creek tram line used by sawmills in the late 1800s. While visiting Shantytown Heritage Park Greymouth, don’t miss this memorable train ride.
Gold Panning
Try your luck at gold panning – one of Shantytown’s signature experiences. Learn traditional techniques from experienced staff or test your skills with “wild” panning on your own in Infants Creek.
Museum & Historic Buildings
Explore over 30 authentic shops and buildings, filled with stories of early settlers, miners, and families. The museum collection includes more than 10,000 objects, historic photographs, and archives from 1850–1940.
The Sawmill
Experience the sights, sounds, and smells of a working sawmill and discover the social history of West Coast milling communities.
Holographic Goldfields Show
Watch a powerful holographic presentation that blends historic photos, court records, and letters to tell a true story from the early goldfields era.
Princess Theatre Experience
Settle into authentic period seating within our plush, historic theatre and transport yourself to a bygone era. The Princess Theatre offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich history of New Zealand’s rugged West Coast through captivating archival film footage.
Discover Chinatown
Learn about the Chinese gold miners who arrived on the West Coast from the 1860s and their lasting contribution to New Zealand’s history. As you explore more, you will appreciate the rich cultural diversity that founded the West Coast identity.
Old Time Photos
Dress up in period costumes and capture a fun, authentic souvenir photo in the Golden Nugget Saloon.
Family-Friendly Fun
Shantytown offers hours of entertainment for all ages, including:
- Flying fox (zip wire)
- Treasure hunts
- Old-fashioned lollies
- Short rainforest walks and lookout tracks
Walks Around Shantytown
- Lookout Track / Surveyors Monument – 5 minutes to the top, 15-minute loop
- Manuka Track – 10-minute walk from the village to the Gold Claim area, following an original gold miners’ route
Food & Refreshments
King Dick’s Café
Enjoy café-style meals, great coffee, classic treats, ice creams, milkshakes, and a wide range of old-fashioned lollies. Family-friendly options available. Above all, Shantytown Heritage Park Greymouth is ideal for a full day out.
Events, Conferences & Weddings
Shantytown is also the largest conference, wedding, and event venue on the West Coast.
The West Coast Events Centre can host everything from intimate meetings to large-scale events of up to 600 delegates, with:
- On-site catering
- Fully licensed bar
- Large car parks
- Multiple breakout spaces
A wedding at Shantytown offers a truly unique setting, with a historic church, bush-clad surroundings, and stunning photo opportunities.
Education Programmes
Shantytown provides hands-on learning programmes for students aged 5–18, covering a wide range of curriculum areas. Custom programmes can be developed to suit specific learning goals.
Shantytown Opening Hours
- Gates open: 8.30am – 5:00pm
- Café, gold panning & photos: from 10:00am
- Closed: Christmas Day
👉 Check Tickets, Opening Hours & Plan Your Visit to Shantytown
