Gold rush history is evident in Kumara both in archaeological remains and on trails through former mining areas. The West Coast Wilderness Trail and a historic hotel round out the experience. For planning, the town’s history, walks and cycling trips can be considered separately.
Gold mining history and visible traces
Gold was discovered in Kumara in 1876. In the 1880s, the goldfield was considered the largest hydraulic goldfield in the world. Another historic trace is the Seddon House Site: this publicly accessible historic site is classified as Category 1. Archaeological remains mark the place where Richard John Seddon lived with his family from the late 1870s until 1895. The most visible features are the house’s foundation ruins and the only mature tree.
The Theatre Royal Hotel was built in 1876 and is New Zealand’s only fully restored gold miners’ hotel on the West Coast. The historic baths also tell the story of the gold mining era: they were built in the 1930s from discarded gold mining tailings. They were once Olympic-sized and were then considered New Zealand’s largest outdoor swimming pool. Today, the baths are drained and unused.
Walks with different highlights
The Heritage Walking Trail in Kumara offers a chance to learn about the town’s history. If you’re looking for views rather than local history, the easy Taylors Hill Track is a loop with views of Kumara and the Taramakau River. Track conditions can vary after wet weather; check them before setting out.
Payns Track follows a former tramway route and is now a short walk through native trees and lush vegetation. It’s an out-and-back track. One kilometre east of Kumara, the easy, 540-metre-long Londonderry Rock Walk leads through tailings and old gold mines to a huge boulder. Check conditions before walking this loop.
Cycling from Kumara
The West Coast Wilderness Trail is divided into four sections of about 30 kilometres each between Greymouth and Ross. This also makes shorter rides possible, suitable for families and less experienced cyclists; e-bikes are well suited to the trail. From Kumara, the trail heads north towards Greymouth or south towards Cowboys Paradise. Check current trail conditions before cycling.
For a short ride, a cycling route runs from Kumara to Kumara Chasm Bridge and back. This gives you a choice of shorter rides as well as sections of the West Coast Wilderness Trail, while the walking trails explore other aspects of the town’s history and landscape.
Races and regional produce
Founded in 1887, the Kumara Racing Club holds the Kumara Races every year on the second Saturday in January. The District Council describes them as the town’s biggest event. If you’d like to plan your trip around them, check the current programme in advance.
The restaurant and bar at the Theatre Royal Hotel use home-grown and regional produce whenever possible. The hotel thus connects its history with local dining, without implying a particular opening time.
Discover more destinations: Karangarua, Reefton, Seddonville, Karamea, Denniston.
Back to the main travel overview: West Coast.
