Greymouth Railway Station and Information Centre

Named after Sir George Grey (twice New Zealand's governor) the town and port grew on the site of Westland's largest Maori community initially in the 1860s as a depot for gold diggers. If you are looking for cafes and dining in Greymouth try Mackay Street. The wharf and quay are walkable.

Greymouth Railway station is the terminus for the Tranzalpine rail trip. It is also a starting point for the 136km West Coast Wilderness Cycle Trail which leads through Kumara and Hokitika and then to Ross.

The station itself has serious pedigree, being built in 1885 and now one of few Vogel Class Two stations still in operation and functioning as a station on the original site. The footbridge over the line was also of heritage interest, but after much debate and discussion, has been dismantled and moved and unfortunately now may be beyond repair. The 1990s renovations which did away with some outbuildings at the south end of the platform provided timber for the recycled rimu craze of the day, which the boys at the coffin factory made into blanket boxes in their lunch hour.

With the success of the Tranzalpine tourist rail journey, Greymouth Railway Station has survived better than many others despite the West Coast weather.

Inside the station is the i-SITE West Coast Travel Centre. They offer expert advice and a free reservation service for all activities, tours, accommodation and transport. Those services include Tranz Alpine Train, Tranz Scenic Trains and coach, Intercity buses, Atomic Shuttles, West Coast Shuttles, Naked Bus, InterIslander and Bluebridge Ferry. The free reservations service extends to Hotels, Motels, Bed and Breakfasts to Backpackers and Holiday Parks. Also doubling as agents for the Department of Conservation, the centre provides information on walks, overnight tramps and bookings huts throughout the South Island. Their other services are baggage storage, car storage, freight service, internet access, refreshments and souvineers.

Image Credits: Greymouth I-site West Coast Visitor Centre