Ross – Gold History and Walks

Ross brings its gold-mining history to life at several specific sites. Between 1865 and 1914, the alluvial goldfields of Ross were the most productive in New Zealand. The museum, historic machinery, bell tower and walking tracks reveal different aspects of this heritage.

Discover the town’s gold history

At the southern end of Aylmer Street is the Ross Goldfields Information & Heritage Centre, a central source of information on mining history and the region. You can try gold panning indoors; visitors can take home gold flakes and a little jade. The centre also offers a quiz about the Ross Goldfields Heritage Trail. Check local visitor arrangements and quiz availability before planning either activity.

The small museum in the centre displays a replica of New Zealand’s largest gold nugget, The Hon Roddy, which was found in Ross in 1909. Models, artefacts, photographs and old newspaper articles round out the exhibition. Here, you encounter gold history not only through dates, but also through objects and images that explore different aspects of the town’s past.

In the Ross Historic Area, information panels featuring historic photographs explain the mining machinery; the area is at the heart of the visitor experience. Another landmark is the Ross Bell Tower. The current brass bell was cast at a foundry in Glasgow in 1868 and presented to the Ross community by the Hokitika Fire Brigade in 1874. The tower has been restored and rebuilt; the bell is rung on special occasions.

Forest walks and cycling

The Ross Goldfield Water Race Walkway passes through regenerating native forest and by tunnels, several dam sites and a replica miners’ hut. The track is considered a particularly suitable option for children. Along the way, forest sections meet traces of mining history, offering a different way to explore the town’s past than a visit to the museum or historic area.

The West Coast Wilderness Trail also makes Ross a notable starting and finishing point. The trail between Greymouth and Ross is divided into four sections, each about 30 kilometres long. If you’re considering a cycling trip, check current trail conditions beforehand. Nearby, the Mount Greenland Track offers a different challenge: it is a demanding bike ride, very swampy in places and extremely slippery when wet. Keep these conditions in mind when planning.

Ross as a possible overnight stop

Ross is on State Highway 6, 30 kilometres south of Hokitika. If you’re considering Ross as an overnight stop, you can base your choice on the experiences you’re looking for: gold-mining history, the Water Race Walkway and the West Coast Wilderness Trail each offer a different focus. Current trail conditions should also be part of your planning for cycling trips.

Elsewhere in the wider Westland District destination, different landscapes take centre stage. The area around Fox Glacier features a dynamic glacier landscape amid forest; on calm, clear days, Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman are reflected in the water at Lake Matheson. Ōkārito River Mouth Lagoon, meanwhile, is the largest unmodified wetland on the West Coast and is home to a diverse birdlife. This lets you contrast Ross’s gold history with a nature-focused itinerary in the Westland District, while keeping the different places distinct.

Discover more destinations: Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier, Otira, Bruce Bay, Hokitika, Haast, Whataroa, Okarito.

Return to the wider travel overview: Westland District.