The Goldfields Mining Centre, set beside the Kawarau River just before it heads out into the Cromwell basin, brings home the harshness of life in the 1860’s. It’s a rugged moonscape of sand, gravel and stone. Rudimentary machinery demonstrates the simple technology and back breaking work required to win bounty from the earth.
As I wandered this historic reserve recently, it’s history came to life. The sheer guts and tenacity of the men who labored here is written in to the landscape they carved out of this valley. Their ghosts seemed to peer still from the doorways of these hovels.
You too, can experience frontier history on our half or full day themed tours.