1 / 3Ross Goldfields Heritage Centre
đ Ross, West Coast
Best for a stop on the drive south of Hokitika. A small heritage centre and i-SITE in the old gold town of Ross, with a museum, hands-on gold panning, and an hour-long walkway through tunnels, dams and old workings.
We had a bathroom break in the city of Ross. Right? Beside, it is a nice little museum called the Ross goldfields. A quaint little museum that shows you the history of gold mining in this area. The information counter was very helpful and a lot of the historic information. Some people may only spend a minute or two, but it's possible to spend quite a bit of time if you like to do the reading. So stop at the local bathroom right beside it and make sure you check out the Ross goldfields information center.
đ Family Action Verdict
A good hour to break the drive between Hokitika and the glaciers: pan for gold at the centre, then walk the loop if legs allow, since the tunnels and the stocks make it a hit with primary-age kids. Toilets are next door and a cafe is nearby. Wet weather can close the track, so ask first.
âšī¸ What to Know Before You Go
đŦ What Families Are Saying
View all reviews â270 Google reviews
Anthony Wessel
âWe had a bathroom break in the city of Ross. Right? Beside, it is a nice little museum called the Ross goldfields. A quaint little museum that shows you the history of gold mining in this area. The information counter was very helpful and a lot of the historic information. Some people may only spend a minute or two, but it's possible to spend quite a bit of time if you like to do the reading. So stop at the local bathroom right beside it and make sure you check out the Ross goldfields information center.â
Hanako Meise
âI had a lovely experience here. I was just wondering around the town before heading off to my next destination and I enter this place it has a small museum abou gold mining in the old days and it has some souvenir shops. I bought a Jade that the locals made in the town. Also did the gold panning experience. the stuff was so nice and so lovely to talk with, she answers my questions and she shows me how to do the panning. At the end I got some gold plus a tiny piece of Jade stone.â
Andy Mitchell
âNice trail to explore the old goldfield. Plenty of information signs explaining the history of the site, take the time to read through them. The trail passes through various workings, abandoned machinery, miner's hut and a graveyard. There is even a place that you can pan for gold. Definitely recommendâ
Colin MacKillop
âTurn off the 6 here for a well preserved walk in early 1900 gold mining. Buildings, stocks for the children đ, or try gold panning! Highly informative as well as entertaining. Nearby cafe serves great snack and coffee.â
Reviews from Google
Overview
Ross, twenty minutes south of Hokitika, was the site of New Zealand's biggest gold nugget, and the heritage centre on Aylmer Street tells that story with a small museum and staff who double as the local i-SITE. The hands-on part is gold panning: staff show children how to swirl a pan and most come away with a fleck. From the centre the Water Race Walkway loops for about an hour through regenerating bush past tunnels, dam sites, a miner's hut, the old cemetery and the stocks kids love.
