Kumara: Gold History and Cycling Route

Kumara brings together gold history and tracks where you can discover traces of this past in different ways. The West Coast Wilderness Trail also passes through the town, offering another perspective: exploring the West Coast by bike. When planning your trip, it makes a difference whether you are mainly interested in historic sites, walks or a cycling stage.

Gold History in the Town

Gold was discovered in Kumara in 1876. In the 1880s, the goldfield was considered the largest hydraulic goldfield in the world. Gold mining also shaped later chapters in the town’s history: in the 1930s, the historic baths were built using abandoned gold-mining tailings. They once reached Olympic dimensions and were then New Zealand’s largest outdoor swimming pool. Today, the baths have been drained and are unused—they are part of Kumara’s history, not a current swimming facility.

Another historic site is the publicly accessible Seddon House Site, a Category 1 historic place. Archaeological remains mark the spot where Richard John Seddon lived with his family from the late 1870s until 1895. Visitors can mainly see the house’s foundation ruins and the only mature tree on the grounds. The Heritage Walking Trail in Kumara offers another way to learn about the town’s history.

On Foot: Views, Forest and Old Gold Mines

The tracks around Kumara offer different experiences. The easy Taylors Hill Track is a loop with views of Kumara and the Taramakau River; track conditions can vary after wet weather. Payns Track follows a former tramway route and is now a short out-and-back walk through native trees and lush vegetation. Those interested in mining history can find a different connection between landscape and the past on the Londonderry Rock Walk.

About one kilometre east of Kumara, this easy, 540-metre loop leads through tailings and old gold mines to a huge boulder. Its short distance and destination set this walk apart from tracks that focus on views or forest. Check track conditions before your walk.

Cycling Through Kumara

The West Coast Wilderness Trail passes through Kumara. Between Greymouth and Ross, it is divided into four sections, each about 30 kilometres long. This makes shorter rides possible, suitable for families and less experienced cyclists; e-bikes are also well suited to these rides. From Kumara, the route heads north towards Greymouth or south towards Cowboys Paradise. Another short ride goes from Kumara to Kumara Chasm Bridge and back. Check the trail’s current conditions before setting out.

Racing Tradition and Accommodation

The events calendar is also part of the town’s character. Founded in 1887, the Kumara Racing Club holds the Kumara Races annually on the second Saturday in January. The District Council describes them as the town’s biggest event. If you want to plan your trip around the races, confirm the current programme before travelling.

Built in 1876, the Theatre Royal Hotel in Kumara is New Zealand’s only fully restored gold-miners’ hotel on the West Coast. Its restaurant and bar use home-grown and local produce whenever possible. Kumara thus offers historic sites, tracks and a local racing tradition alongside a specific hotel and dining venue.

Choose your base according to what you want to experience in Kumara, rather than treating all the tracks and sights as the same kind of offering.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Reefton, Karamea, Seddonville, Karangarua, Denniston.

Back to the main travel guide: West Coast.