Westport

Westport (population 3783) now the adventure capital of the coast, became prosperous through gold, and is now the country’s only successfully mined source of bituminous coal. Old mining towns surround Westport and evidence of the districts heritage is on display at the museum where visitors can walk through a simulated underground mine. Westport’s activities include fishing, gold panning, horse trekking, mine and brewery visits, mountain bike tours, surfing at Tauranga Bay and North Beach, scenic kayaking as well as fossicking for semi-precious stones on the many beaches. More adventurous activities include jet boating, white or black water rafting, adventure caving, unimog tours, paintball, land yachting, white water kayaking and jet skiing.