Waiuta - NZ's Ghost Town

Located 21 km south of Reefton in Ikamatua, Waiuta was the location of a historic gold mining town. Unlike many of the old mining sites we've visited throughout the West Coast, Waiuta has a more recent history.
History
Now abandoned, it is considered one of NZ's most popular ghost towns. Gold was mined in the area for decades before they hit the 'motherload'. The first gold Quartz Reef was found in 1905 and the first mine shaft operated in 1908 called the Blackwater Shaft (593m deep!). The mine was extended in 1926 with the opening of the Prohibition Shaft (a whopping 879m deep)which is a short drive further up the hill. The mine produced 750,000 ounces of gold and by the early 1920s, a town was beginning to form.
We spent the entire day in Waiuta, following in the footsteps of those miners and their families and picturing just what their lives must have looked like.
We took the walk to Snowy Creek Battery and the old powerhouse that used to supply electricity to the entire town.
Click on the link below to read more on what we saw and experienced in Waiuta and Reefton.
wp.me/p7Owlb-1eX
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[@samhunt9380]

First visited there from Christchurch in 1967 when I bought my first Land Rover. It's deteriorated somewhat since then!

[@timsmith1127]

I went in there in April with my son i last went in there 1983 so I had forgotten what was in there

[@tonymckeage1028]

Great Video, spent some time here in 2019, but i didn't spend the time you guys did, thanks for sharing

[@timsmith1127]

I went there with my Son in April, I last went there about 1983 so I had forgotten what was in there, The road coming in is hard to drive on, Very little room for a car to move over, But some interesting History in there

[@paulcritchley464]

Another history lesson of NZed. Well done

[@geofflewis8599]

..quartz production..GOLD production!..

[@neilhansen5663]

Great mining there

[@warrencharlton8200]

Awesome video thanks for sharing

[@jeremypotaka6463]

Wow awsome I drove past there yesterday an really wanted to stop in . I wonder though .there's probly stil lots off tools an things down in the collapsed mine shaft. Be cool to some how get down an hava look. Be pretty well preserved I recon

[@KiwisFlyTheCoop]

It would be treasure trove below ground for sure. You could certainly spend many hours wandering around.

[@lifeontheroadnz6900]

Great video, looking forward to checking that out when we get to the South Island

[@joybell9408]

Really interesting thank you🙂

[@panddbrooker]

Fascinating place - thanks for sharing your travels.

[@KiwisFlyTheCoop]

Thank you - and you're welcome.

[@sidneywiparata5675]

Cheers from wanganui river road

[@GoffyTv]

interesting video, well done!

[@rupanshukauldhar]

GREAT

[@stormchaser300]

interesting is like Macraes Flat goldmine town in the Mackenzie country.

[@JohnWilson-cs7iq]

Mackenzie country is in Canterbury. I think you have you're wires crossed. Macraes Flat is in Otago.

[@stormchaser300]

@@JohnWilson-cs7iq its actually in South Canterbury. i said it looks like Macraes Flat in Otago.

[@JohnWilson-cs7iq]

@@stormchaser300 Where did you say that? I can't see that in your comment. You haven't mentioned Otago at all.

[@kertresz]

Huhh itt személyesen is jártunk.

[@topgunhitman3856]

These places rest peacfully in the mists of time,and in my meommorys.