1 / 3Shantytown Heritage Park
📍 Paroa, West Coast
Best for primary-age kids who like trains and treasure. A recreated 1860s gold-mining town near Greymouth with steam train rides, seeded gold panning, thirty historic buildings, a holographic theatre and a playground.
What a great few hours wandering around this heritage town. A replica of an original 1800's mining town. We rode our bikes from Greymouth which took an hour or so. The steam train took us up to the saw mill from where we walked a short way to pan for gold😄 We had a great time looking at all the old mining gear, hospital, fire station and had a great coffee and eats at King Dicks cafe. Highly recommended for less than $50 per adult for the whole experience.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
A dependable half day for kids aged about four to twelve, with the train and the gold panning carrying it and the buildings rewarding a poke about. Budget for the panning on top of entry, because that is the bit children remember, and expect a well-loved heritage park rather than a polished theme park. Rain is normal here, so pack coats.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →1,657 Google reviews
Moyra Scott
“What a great few hours wandering around this heritage town. A replica of an original 1800's mining town. We rode our bikes from Greymouth which took an hour or so. The steam train took us up to the saw mill from where we walked a short way to pan for gold😄 We had a great time looking at all the old mining gear, hospital, fire station and had a great coffee and eats at King Dicks cafe. Highly recommended for less than $50 per adult for the whole experience.”
Jennifer Warkentin
“You can’t miss this place when visiting the West Coast! You can ride the steam train, revisit the past at the museum, have some coffee and food, try to get lucky and pan for gold, or hang out at the playground. Locals can get a great deal with an annual ticket ☺️👌🏽 Awesome place to come with kids.”
Ian Harber
“Loved learning about the gold rush and timber industry. The steam engine ride was great and loved it that we got the chance to see in the cab. Gold panning was the highlight and we got to keep the gold! We were here on a Monday and it was quite quiet which was nice. Well worth a visit.”
Elaine Kerapa
“Spent about 4 hours looking around, absolutely loved it. The train ride was awesome, panning for gold. Great experience. Would recommend it to anyone. Cafe has Great food and friendly staff. The old time photos are a must. Truly wonderful. Beautiful old steam trains.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Shantytown sits in the bush at Paroa, ten minutes south of Greymouth, and recreates a West Coast gold-rush town with more than thirty buildings to wander through: a hospital, fire station, church, schoolroom and Chinatown. Entry includes a steam train ride up the old bush line to the sawmill, a holographic theatre show and a sluice-gun demonstration; gold panning costs a little extra and the pans are seeded, so every child goes home with a fleck. A cafe, a playground and parking are on site.
