Shantytown Heritage Park
Reviews
Justine
Ranking: 9/10
Arrived for opening.... went on the train, panned for gold and saw all the places... loads of interesting history and learnt things which was a bonus.
went to have a photo and lunch but could not find staff and the photo place was not available.
three hours later we emerged.... still could have spent more time reading and exploring but we were hungry.
Jozef Pinkerton
Ranking: 7/10
Good fun afternoon. A bit of a ghost town but fun nevertheless. Staff were friendly and the train ride was cool.
Sven Fimne
Ranking: 9/10
Really nice town to learn a lot about the history of the area. Did also gold panning.
Sammy Kerrod
Ranking: 8/10
Iconic kiwi activity with hilarious local staff. Very well kept grounds with lots of interesting history = steam train is a must do! Well priced cafe with generous portions.
Jasmin Krause
Ranking: 8/10
Nice and old, maybe less money would make it more attractive.
Gesche
Ranking: 6/10
Nice to see the historic buildings and replicas. Not well maintained though.
Michael Busching
Ranking: 10/10
Very lovely place, it is a rebuild of a little town during the gold rush. They even have an old train and you can search for gold (an extra $7).
Ben and Pauline
Ranking: 7/10
Good experience with the steam loco (train) and the old village but a little bit expensive.
Martin Bakker
Ranking: 9/10
Authentic, iconic image of the time of the settlers and the goldrush. Worth the money and worthy of your support.
Kristina Farkas
Ranking: 10/10
Nicely designed area with old houses, interesting information and it is interactive.
Saskia
Ranking: 9/10
Nice and informative museum. We were expecting some adventure park and were positively surprised. Also nice with children.
Barbara
Ranking: 8/10
It was really made.
Patricia Revel
Ranking: 9/10
A lot of houses are not original, but the information on display tells a lot about the gold rush period.
Mirjam Betschart
Ranking: 7/10
If you can wash your gold somewhere else - I would not recommend it.
Marinette
Ranking: 7/10
It was okay but for me not so special for the price.
Jacqui Knight
Ranking: 9/10
Lots of fun. Our 3 and 5 year old sons were running around in excitement for a solid 4 hours. The steam train and the hollogram movie and glow in the dark rocks were a real highlight.
Derek Knight
Ranking: 10/10
I loved this and so did our kids. We found it very easy to spend 4 hours there. Tip-the AA travel guide has a 20% coupon in it for Shantytown. The guides are free in info centres.
Norman UK
Ranking: 8/10
Well thought out period museum - gold panning and steam train rides.
Hazel & Alan Damerell
Ranking: 10/10
Wonderful insight into that period of history.
Richard & Jane
Ranking: 8/10
Very interesting, stayed for about three hours, food a bit expensive in the cafe.
Avoid Camping Fines!
Each camping location is approved by a regional council in NZ. So if it shows on the map, you’re allowed to stay.
The Rankers Camping NZ app, is also in association with…
Sabine & Stefan
Ranking: 8/10
Nice museum - like old town with steam train ride and gold digging. Prices for entry rather high, gold digging extra charge.
sandytemp22
Ranking: 10/10
We ended up staying in Greymouth for 5 days! as the area had so much interesting stuff to do and this was one of them. Its an 1860's gold rush town made up from buildings rescued from ghost towns on the West Coast. There is steam train called the Climax which takes you on a shortish ride through the rainforest to an early sawmill experience. I enjoyed the gold panning and even found some gold at the area where you dig for yourself. This was a laid back experience where yo could stop and talk to the locals who staffed it, they were enthusiasts and many had their families as pioneers in the area so we got to hear the history first hand so to speak. What those early gold miners had to put up with was amazing. Well worth half a day and good value for money. The whole area has plenty to do and see that doesnt cost anything as well and the locals were very helpful in telling how to get to the various places. You can cook your dinner on a bonfire on the beach as well. It was great.
Des & Ann Bidwell
Ranking: 10/10
Very good but not cheap and extra money charged for gold panning. Train and wood mill very good, displays very good.
Ray Coombe
Ranking: 10/10
Well-presented history with authentic buildings and memorabilia. Excellent audio visual using superb technology and good scripting. We arrived late in the day and were given a discount - many thanks.
Therea
Ranking: 10/10
Excellent day out. Spent 5 hours there easy. Lots to do, very interesting, staff very pleasant. Enjoyed the gold panning.
B Kleven
Ranking: 6/10
So expensive for what we got to see.
Michaela Strohmarer
Ranking: 10/10
Amazing.
Mike and Diane Baker
Ranking: 8/10
Shanty town was worth it, great to go back in time.
Schlaepfer
Ranking: 7/10
It is a nice museum, but it is not cheap.
Barbara
Ranking: 8/10
The experience weel worth admission price. Friendly staff, even on a public holiday.
Jackie Morris
Ranking: 8/10
Worth a visit, lots to see and do.
Friedli Manuela
Ranking: 8/10
Very interesting crafts, informative. $29PP bit too much.
Polil
Ranking: 9/10
Interesting historical town! You can have a lot of experience!
Pam & Norman
Ranking: 8/10
Very good historic site.
Chung Family
Ranking: 8/10
Shantytown was very good you can learn how to pan for gold. There is lots of attractions and it is very authentic.
Don Morgan
Ranking: 10/10
Train ride, gold panning and much more. An excellent day out for young families , low cost and a lot of fun.
Beverly B
Ranking: 7/10
A replica of a goldmining town + well worth a visit. Gold panning, shops, old church, school hospital etc but at times water proof coats + gum boots are required. Situated in a heavy rain area but well worth a visit. We have been several times + always enjoyed it.
Rod C
Ranking: 10/10
Excellent, get an oldtime photo of the family memories of a lifetime & reasonably priced too $30
chubby69
Ranking: 8/10
Was cold and wet the day we were there but thatmeantless peopl. goldpanning and train ride good. sawmill had alot of excellent stuuf to read.
Armand
Ranking: 9/10
Nicely done, a lot of effort put in creating an ambience.
Camping NZ App
Every camping site on your iPhone™, iPad™ or Android™ phone or tablet. Avoid camping penalties using this council approved app. Featuring offline maps.
Anne Fri
Ranking: 8/10
We forgot a hat in the park. They will send it to us - we are really greatfull for that.
Janny Meerdinnk Veldboow
Ranking: 7/10
Nice to be there, make it bigger. More is possible.
Yssel de Schepper
Ranking: 8/10
We came too late but liked it.
Schygulla
Ranking: 6/10
Nice rebuilding.
Ann Grandchamp
Ranking: 7/10
A little expensive ($25) for what it is. Only 3-4 people wearing traditional costume. Very informative and interesting and complete.
Nadine Schaee
Ranking: 8/10
Interesting
niekv
Ranking: 6/10
A goldmining town from the 1860s. Fun to see but a bit expensive for $25 pp.
chessum
Ranking: 8/10
Fantastically done. Could imagine ourselves living in that little town in the mid 1800's.
OdiliaF
Ranking: 10/10
Lots of us, the drive with the railway was nice.
kindel
Ranking: 9/10
Positive - The give informations in German.
AndyEngland
Ranking: 7/10
Good fun, expecially gold panning for children some more backround information would have added the interest for all. Expecially adults.
NikkiB1
Ranking: 10/10
Wonderful place and reconstructions superb. Great inside into early settler life on westcoast.
Dirk
Ranking: 8/10
Nice place, good museum, especially hospital.
Jean
Ranking: 4/10
Very contrived & unreal.
CateNetherlands
Ranking: 5/10
Simple; Compared with European museum (antiques) Quite poor.
Ludolph
Ranking: 5/10
They should have more activities and maybe perform little dances in the bar.
Sanne
Ranking: 8/10
Great for the children.
Jurg Meister
Ranking: 6/10
The ride with the train was not that funny.
April
Ranking: 10/10
Awesome place very friendly staff, we got to dress up and have our photo take at the golden nugget saloon, would highly reccomend it!! loads of fun :)
peters
Ranking: 7/10
Quite a good look at how the early settlers lived. Gold panning and being able to keep a flake of gold in a little vial was a big hit in our family. Not a great attraction to take kids under 8 to as there is a lot of reading on information cards to do and they soon lose interest. The whole town is a museum really.
Pam
Ranking: 6/10
Not enough history - need a museum to make it understandable.