Big River Tours

Big River Gold Tours takes you on a unique journey into the West Coast beech forests of the Victoria Conservation Park.

Experience first hand how remote our Gold pioneers lived in the former settlement of Big River.

Travel into the bush in the airconditioned comfort of our 4x4 Van. The 25km journey starts when we collect you from your accommodation in Reefton or we can meet you at Reeftons I-site (Information Centre). We travel along a short tarsealed road that leads onto the gravel section. At the 10km mark we enter the 4x4 Big River Road that winds another 15km to the mine site. Along the way we will see the DOC landmarks that indicate where the various settlements and mines were in their hey day. You will marvel at the beech forest as it evolves along the journey.

Once we reach the Red Shed at Big River you will appreciate how remote this settlement is. The Red Shed houses what remains of the Boiler and Winding equipment that lowered the men into the 602m shaft. Wander up to the Poppet Head and enjoy the views over the Victoria Conservation Park.

Enjoy the lunch Big River Gold Tours provide as you soak up the history and the surroundings. We will then head back down to the remains of the settlement where various remants of machinery and buildings are visible.

When you are ready we will return along the beautiful Big River Road to Reefton through beech, mosses, ferns and many of our native trees.