The Family Travel Guide to Greymouth

© NZPocketGuide.com

Family Adventure Activities

Greymouth offers many fantastic outdoor adventures on its doorstep (some of them all-weather or free, which we’ll get onto later). One that pleasantly surprises visitors, however, is Shantytown Heritage Park.

Wander through the streets of this replica gold rush town to get a taste of what the West Coast used to be like in the 19th Century.

Ride the steam train through the native bush, try your luck at panning for gold, see a working sluice gun or sawmill in action and much more!

A real hidden gem of the Greymouth area, “Glow-worm Cave Tour” with UnderWorld Adventures. As long as your kids are old enough scramble through a cave, they’ll have a blast on this tour.

Delve into a cave with a ceiling of glittering glowworms and learn about their interesting lifecycle from your knowledgable guide. You’ll also get an insight into the local and Maori history and try your hand at panning for gold.

For more family adventures, check out the 10 Things to Do in Greymouth with Kids.

© Great Journeys New Zealand

All-weather Family Activities

Riding the train is always a kid-pleaser, but the TranzAlpine is sure to inspire you too, often ranked as one of the most scenic train journeys in the world!

The four-hour train ride goes from Greymouth to Christchurch, passing through the alpine landscape of the Arthur’s Pass National Park. Observe the breathtaking scenery from the open-air viewing carriages or from the comfort of your seat with large windows up to the ceiling.

Keep the kids happy with a treat from the cafe carriage in between watching the braided rivers, lakes and bush-clad mountains go by.

For more all-weather ideas, check out the 10 Things to Do in Greymouth on a Rainy Day.

© westcoast.co.nz

Free Family Activities

Tie up the little ones’ laces, because most of the free family attractions in Greymouth are scenic walks! Some of the closest walks to town that are suitable for children (although not pre-schoolers) are the Woods Creek Track, Coal Creek Falls and the Point Elizabeth Walkway.

Woods Creek Track is a fun 45-minute trail with mining tunnels and gold mining races to check out along the way.

Coal Creek Falls is a one-hour return of easy walking with a picturesque waterfall being the highlight.

Finally, the Point Elizabeth Walkway offers stunning coastal views between tracts of coastal forest. Learn more about the walks, as well as a few others, in the 10 Best Walks in Greymouth.

For a bit of a road trip to see some must-see sights and landscapes on the West Coast, hit the road to the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks! Located north of Greymouth, the Pancake Rocks are bizarre limestone formations that look like stacked pancakes.

The walk to admire them takes about 20 minutes to walk and is stroller-friendly, but allow extra time to stop and admire the blowholes.

See more attractions nearby in the 10 Awesome Things to Do in Punakaiki. Tours to this attraction are also available with Explore West Coast.

Next, head south to check out Hokitika Gorge! Admire the fluorescent turquoise river water flowing through the dramatic gorge landscape on this walk that only takes about 15 minutes to tackle.

Kids love crossing the swingbridge, while strollers are suitable for the first part of the walk to a viewing platform. Check out more things to do in the area in the 10 Awesome Things to Do in Hokitika. Tours to this attraction are also available with Explore West Coast.

Finally, another short walk and historic site worth visiting is the Brunner Mine Site. And don’t worry, this isn’t too far from town.

Wander around one of New Zealand’s earliest coal mining sites and learn fascinating facts on the interpretation panels throughout. There is a short walk to various coke ovens, a brick factory and the remains of a tunnel.

For more free activities, check out the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Greymouth.

© Greymouth Seaside TOP 10 Holiday Park

Where to Stay: Family-Friendly Accommodations in Greymouth

Make your accommodation part of the recreation at one of the holiday parks or make your life easy with self-catering facilities at one of the motels.

Although we outline all your options in the 10 Best Family Accommodations in Greymouth, here are some of our top picks for families.

Greymouth Seaside TOP 10 Holiday Park – Family-Friendly Holiday Park

For families on a budget (or just looking for plain fun), check out the range of accommodations available at the Greymouth Seaside Top 10 Holiday Park.

Choose from camping sites, budget cabins, self-contained units, motels with two bedrooms and apartments.

Wherever you and your family decide to stay, you’ll have access to limited free WiFi, a children’s playground and jumping pillow, as well as communal kitchens, bathrooms and laundry.

Find this holiday park just a short drive from the city centre and alongside the West Coast Wilderness Trail.

Discover why Greymouth Seaside TOP 10 Holiday Park is a great choice for families and outdoor travellers, and book your stay through Booking.com or Expedia!

Alpine Rose Motel – Comfortable Family Motel

Just a 3-minute drive from Greymouth town centre, Alpine Rose Motel offers excellent family accommodation with a range of well-appointed rooms.

From cosy studios to spacious family units, there’s an option to suit every budget. All rooms come with free WiFi, a flat-screen TV boasting over 50 satellite channels, and convenient cooking facilities including a stove, microwave and refrigerator.

Families will appreciate the children’s playground and BBQ facilities, perfect for outdoor dining. For those travelling by electric vehicle, a Tesla car charger is available on-site.

Learn more about why Alpine Rose Motel is a convenient base for families visiting Greymouth and secure your stay through Booking.com or Expedia!