Shantytown is a popular West Coast historic visitor attraction and leading conference, wedding and event venue.
Attractions at Shantytown
We recommend you allow at least 90 minutes to experience our award-winning attractions.
Ride the Heritage Train
On either the 1877 L-Class, 1896 improved F-Class Kaitangata or 1957 TR 107 Diesel, you will take a short trip through lush native rain forest along the Infants Creek Tram line which follows an original sawmill tram track of the 1800’s.
Gold Panning
Gold Panning is our speciality!
Catch gold fever and pan for your own gold. Our gold panning team will tutor you to find your own piece of ‘colour’. Or you can try your hand at ‘wild’ panning, grab a pan and haul your own shingle out of the sluice area, then pan in the ponds – try your luck, nuggets have been found in them thar hills.
Museum
With over 10,000 objects, 2000 photographs and 1000 archives our collection is vast. Items originate from 1850 to 1940 and include an array of objects from small day-to-day household items to large mechanical items such as Steam Engines.
The Sawmill
Experience the sights, sounds and smells of a milling operation, as well as social life of workers and their families. You’ll find real life stories of West Coast characters, photos and other nuggets of information in our interpretation space.
Watch the Holographic Show
Using the latest hologram technology, the production combines special effects, historic photos, transcripts from letters and original court records to draw viewers into the life and times of the early goldfields as this tragic and true story unfolds.
Discover Chinatown
Learn the story of Chinese gold miners who began arriving on the West Coast from 1867. They came from goldfields of Otago and Victoria, but later came directly from China. Many came from poor farming families and hoped to make enough money on the West Coast to improve their family’s future.
Get an Old Time Photo
The Golden Nugget Saloon provides the perfect backdrop to get a wonderful memento of your visit to Shantytown. Our specialist photographer will help you pick a costume – be it a barmaid, gun toting robber, serious mother, pastor or poker player – and create the pose that will look authentic and fun!
Hours of Fun for Everyone
With a flying fox (zip wire), old fashioned lollies, treasure hunts and wonderful buildings to explore there is plenty to keep everyone occupied for hours.
Short Rainforest Walks
Take a walk to the lookout over the Village. Lookout Track/Surveyors Monument 5 minutes to top – 15mins loop track.
Manuka Track 10mins from village to Gold Claim area. An original historic track, which was the roadway for early gold miners and pack horses, to the goldfields of the area.
30 Shops and Buildings to Explore
With two village streets filled with shops and buildings to explore, you’ll find fascinating stories of life in the early years of colonisation both on the West Coast and New Zealand.
King Dick’s Cafe
King Dick’s Cafe at Shantytown provides delicious cafe style food, excellent coffee and a delightful setting for a quick bite, or a sumptuous lunch. Children are well catered to with hot chips or a selection of cakes and biscuits for a special treat. Our fantastic range of lollies, as well as ice-creams and milk shakes are available at King Dick’s.
Foundry Experience
Based on the regions’s longest serving Dispatch Foundry established in Greymouth in 1873, this unique visitor experience captures the by-gone era of steam immediately before it is lost.
Education
We provide hands on and active learning programmes for students aged 5-18. Our Centre offers a broad range of programmes covering all areas of the curriculum, suitable for most topic areas. If we don’t have anything you are looking for we will endeavour to create a programme which suits your learning intentions.
Events & Weddings
Nestled in the heart of Shantytown Heritage Park is the West Coast’s largest conference and events centre.
Shantytown Heritage Park is home to the West Coast Events Centre which has two large facilities that can host small, intimate meetings up to large corporate events reaching a maximum of 600 delegates.
On-site catering, fully licensed bar, large carparks and the ability to offer several options as breakout rooms allow the West Coast Events Centre to host all types of events from weddings, day meetings, multiple-day conferences, gala dinners, tradeshows, balls and productions.
A wedding at Shantytown is like no other. Private bush clad location, authentic historic church, full on-site catering and support, while stunning photo opportunities abound.
Shantytown Opening Hours
- Gates Open: 9am-4pm
- Cafe, Photos, & Gold Panning open from 10 am.
- Closed: Christmas Day
