Welcome to Greymouth Railway Station, your gateway to one of the most exciting parts of the South Island.
The remarkable thing about Greymouth Railway Station is that it is the home of one of the most beautiful train lines in the world: the TranzAlpine train line. You’ve likely just completed a train journey, where you witnessed the Southern Alps first-hand and the 75-metre-high Staircase Viaduct. Now that your journey is complete, it’s time to see what Greymouth itself offers. It’s the perfect town to have as a base for domestic travel and an exciting place to explore in itself. And you’ll be able to easily do it all, thanks to a rental car from Hertz Greymouth Railway Station.
Discover Greymouth Town with Hertz
While you’re staying in town, you’ll want to see the top attractions within the town itself. One of the most visited locations is the two-hour Point Elizabeth Walk. You’ll start from Rapahoe Beach, an excellent spot for a summer swim, before strolling past several spots of historical interest. Keep a lookout for old gold mining sites, native bushland, and plenty of headlands too.
You’ll also experience a slice of history at the Shantytown in Greymouth. The gold rush began in Greymouth after discovering gold in the Taramakau Valley in 1864. Take the time to learn about the gold rush, including the importance that this had on the town both historically and culturally, when visiting the Shantytown. It’s one of the best heritage-based tourist attractions in New Zealand and is located just a 10-kilometre drive outside of Greymouth town centre. The site gives a fantastic insight into what it was like to live in New Zealand during the 19th century, as well as explains how the country came to grow into what it is today and highlights the impact that colonisation has had on the people here.
You might want to head to Monteith's Brewery once you’ve had this dose of history. It’s a local legend, with plenty of locals, domestic, and international tourists visiting. Taste an award-winning beer and relax in a chilled atmosphere with friends and family. If you are tasting a beer, make sure to do so responsibly, and if driving, make sure you have a designated driver in your party.
See the Landscape by Greymouth
Greymouth is closeby to one of the most epic hikes in New Zealand.
The Paparoa Track is a 45-minute drive from Greymouth town centre. It’s an impressive track, stretching across 56-kilometres in total one way. If you choose to journey across this landscape, you’ll witness limestone karst terrain, alpine tops, and beautiful rainforests too. This trek will take around three days to complete, so it is the perfect option for those who love to be outside, keep fit while on holiday, and experience something entirely out of their comfort zone.
If you’re heading back to Christchurch, you may choose to drive instead of taking the TranzAlpine Train. The Great Alpine Highway is regarded as one of the most beautiful stretches of road in the world. Witness the Southern Alps, Canterbury Plains, and the formidable Arthur’s Pass. It’s one of the most beautiful road trips in the world, so if you have the time to do it, we’d thoroughly recommend doing so while you have your Hertz rental car.
Greymouth is an exciting place to visit, even if it is just to use as a base for your incredible cross-country road trip. This road trip, stretching from coast to coast, will be one of the most beautiful trips you’ll experience. We look forward to welcoming you to Greymouth soon, at Hertz Greymouth Railway Station.
