The Honeymoon Guide to Greymouth© westcoast.co.nz
The Honeymoon Guide to Greymouth

The Honeymoon Guide to Greymouth

© westcoast.co.nz

Plan a Romantic Getaway, Anniversary or Honeymoon to Greymouth

Sure, a place called “Greymouth” doesn’t inspire thoughts of romance. But if you can see past the “grey” you’ll discover that the largest town of the West Coast of the South Island is wrapped in charm from the surrounding untamed landscapes to the town’s gold mining heritage. There’s another precious mineral nowadays, however, that’s sought by locals and visitors alike. Greenstone is reverred by the Maori and part of the experience of greenstone tours where you’ll be able to gift your own jade findings to your loved one. From seeing glittering glowworms to watching the West Coast sunset on the gorgeous Rapahoe Beach, there’s plenty to spice up a romantic trip to Greymouth.

So plan your romantic getaway along with the places to stay, things to do and places to dine in this honeymoon guide to Greymouth.

Honeymoon Activities in Greymouth

  • Watch the West Coast sunset from Rapahoe Beach
  • Immerse in a cultural experience on a greenstone tour
  • Admire the glittering glowworms on the Glow-worm Cave Tour
  • Tackle the West Coast Wilderness Trail together
  • Buddy up or go solo on a self-drive 4WD tour
  • Enjoy a scenic journey on the TranzAlpine Express
  • Pretend you’re a couple from yesteryear at Shantytown Heritage Park
  • Be inspired at the local art gallery
  • Tour the Monteith’s Brewery
  • Treat your loved one to a romantic night out.

For more details on each experience, take a look at the 10 Romantic Activities in Greymouth for Couples.

The Honeymoon Guide to Greymouth© westcoast.co.nz

Romantic Adventure Activities

Let the wild coastal landscape and rugged interior of the West Coast ignite the romance on one of the amazing adventures in Greymouth. One such experience is a glowworm tour with Glow-worm Cave Tour. Admittedly, scrambling through the streams and caves with your fun and knowledgeable guide isn’t the romantic part, but once you’re under a galaxy of glittering glowworms in a remote cave, you’ll realise that you’re somewhere pretty special. The tour lasts approximately three hours and also includes gold panning! Find out more about this tour on Viator and Tripadvisor.

Find a meaningful gift for each other while immersing in the West Coast culture on a greenstone tour with Arahura Greenstone Tours. Join your Maori guides as they take you one a journey along the Arahura River, which is one of the richest sources of pounamu (greenstone) in the area. They’ll teach you how to search and identify greenstone and give you the opportunity to learn how to make a necklace out of the pieces you find. Learn more about this tour on Viator and Tripadvisor.

A romantic way to end a day in Greymouth is by watching the sunset from Rapahoe Beach. This long stretch of sand backed with coastal cliffs is an endearing location to take your loved one. Arrive earlier than sunset and you can enjoy the coastal hike on the Point Elizabeth Walkway which takes 1h45mins to walk one-way or you can just walk to the viewpoint halfway along and return the same way.

For more experiences, like the stunning Pancake Rocks, riding the West Coast Wilderness Trail or off-roading with On Yer Bike, check out the 10 Romantic Activities in Greymouth for Couples.

The Honeymoon Guide to Greymouth© Kiwi Rail

Romantic All-weather Activities

Even if the weather isn’t on your side, it doesn’t mean that your Greymouth honeymoon has to come to a halt. In fact, there are plenty of all-weather experiences to enjoy together, such as the breathtaking scenic journey of the TranzAlpine Express. Ride the rails through the Arthur’s Pass National Park awash in glorious mountains, braided rivers, bush-clad hills and farming plains on a four-hour journey to Christchurch. Take in the scenery from the open-air viewing carriages and from the comfort of your spacious seat with large windows. Treat yourselves to locally-inspired cuisine and regional wines from the cafe carriage along the way. Book your journey or find out more information on Viator or Tripadvisor.

Speaking of foodie experiences, a tour of the Monteith’s Brewery is another spectacular way to spend a rainy day in Greymouth. Share the experience of learning all about the brewing process from one of New Zealand’s oldest beermakers, which concludes with you learning how to pour the perfect pint. With a bar and restaurant on-site, you can also share a tasting paddle comprised of their range of beers and ciders and pair them with some tasty meals. Learn more about the Monteith’s Brewery Tour on Viator and Tripadvisor.

Need more rainy day inspiration? Check out the 10 Things to Do in Greymouth on a Rainy Day.

The Honeymoon Guide to Greymouth© Pixabay

Romantic Restaurants in Greymouth

With local coastal delicacies to try, like whitebait (available mid-August to November), paua and blue cod, eating out in Greymouth is a must-do! One of the most popular options is Buccleugh’s on High (68 High Street) specialising the aforementioned dishes, as well as local venison and vegetarian options. Similarly, Speight’s Ale House (130 Mawhera Quay) offers hearty West Coast cuisine along with a range of their own beers, enjoyed in the charming setting of a historic building. Alternatively, head a little south to the Paroa Hotel (508 Main South Road) for surf and turf to the magnificent views of the sun dipping behind the Tasman Sea.

Finally, whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch or dinner, don’t miss Sevenpenny (9 Tainui Street), named after a famous boycott that took place in New Zealand after the price of beer went from sixpenny to sevenpenny. The go-get-’em spirit certainly reflects in this bustling cafe and gastropub with casual indoor and outdoor seating areas on the main street.

For more restaurant recommendations, head on over to The Foodie Guide to Greymouth.

More About Greymouth

That’s it for our honeymoon guide to Greymouth. You can find even more honeymoon tips in The Honeymoon Guide to New Zealand.

Author

Laura S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in New Zealand over 10 years ago and with a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to travel New Zealand. She knows Aotearoa inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience New Zealand’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides and is the co-host of NZ Pocket Guide’s live New Zealand travel Q&As on YouTube.

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