Discovering Kumara's Gold Mining Past
Located on the West Coast of the South Island, Kumara is a small settlement you might pass through on State Highway 73 when travelling from Arthur's Pass to Hokitika or Greymouth. This modest hamlet was once a bustling centre of gold mining in the 1800s, rich in gold because of the glacial moraine left behind by the last ice age. Miners used water hoses to break down the moraine and extract the gold, leaving behind piles of waste stone and rock. Today, the landscape is reforesting, but remnants of its gold-mining history remain.
Exploring Historical Sites
Two notable sites in Kumara are the Londonderry Rock and the historical swimming baths, both easily accessible via short, signposted walks from the main road. Londonderry Rock is a large boulder uncovered during gold-digging activities. As you walk through the bush to reach it, you'll notice the forest reclaiming the old diggings. An informational panel explains how the rock was transported by ice flows from the Southern Alps and deposited as the glaciers receded.
Nearby, you can explore the remains of the outdoor bathing pools. These historical swimming baths, now a grassy basin with rock walls, surrounded by forest, are a glimpse into past recreational activities. Photographs illustrating how people once enjoyed these facilities.
How to Get There
Kumara is a 1-hour drive on SH73 (70 km) from Arthur's Pass, and 20 minutes from Hokitika to the south and from Greymouth to the north, both via SH6 and then SH73.
Other nearby places to explore include Lake Brunner / Moana, Blackball, Lake Kaniere, and the Hokitika Gorge.
