Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Enchantment in the Historic City of Hokitika

By Margery Pick


Around the world the cry of "Gold!" resulted in a burning desire to head for areas like hokitika accommodation where a fortune was rumored to exist. The unsettled West Coast of New Zealand called out to those with a sense of adventure and willingness to achieve it. It is easy to wonder exactly how wanderlust affected this future city. Starting in the 1860s, Hokitika has a history familiar to quite a few areas built on gold.

The West Coast enticed thousands of men and a few women to investigate the likelihood of finding gold in that area. Blazing the trail towards a chance at riches involved leading the way through wilderness. Business owners also sought a fortune as they followed the cleared area with supplies that miners would need for survival or comfort. Alluvial deposits were quite disappointing at first, but more gold was discovered. hokitika accommodation began its long history with the gold rush and the discovery of more gold required more rooms. Seventy-two filled hotels in 186, in addition to serving food and drink, indicated the new settlement was a good investment.

Within a few short years, Hokitika was one of New Zealand's most populated areas thanks to the lure of gold. Access to the sea brought the idea of creating a commercial port to provide quicker access to supplies and a faster means of transportation to other areas. Acknowledged as the West Coast's official port of entry until the 1950s, it was also one of the most dangerous, with thirty-two ships lost between 1865 and 1867. Only so many ships could fit in the harbor and at busy times, others had to wait their turn for entry.

The town had the short-lived title of capital of Westland Province between 1873 and the end of provinces in 1876. Settlers decided to stay in the area even though the mining of gold dwindled away and found other types of jobs. That foresight continues to let the current residents survive. Like many historic areas, tourism is a big business.

Although the methods of getting gold are more sophisticated with today's technology, it is still interesting to tour a gold camp and see the techniques. The number of different mediums available to create jewelry inspire artisans to produce, display and sell their work, including bracelets, rings, and necklaces. Local silver and greenstone vie with paua shell and driftwood for jewelry and sculptures. Transportation to the city is readily available and once there, visitors will find it easy to travel to and from Hokitika motels using local buses. The sunshine provides a wonderful feeling when walking towards your daily destination.

Visitors can select a campsite to use as a place to rest between their adventures while talking with likeminded adventurers. Places near the beach offer beautiful views of the Tasman Sea and allow glimpses of the native birds flitting about the gardens. Accommodations make visitors feel comfortable and welcome, offering smoke-free rooms and easy access to the cultural and shopping areas. Staying at a lodge near town gives visitors the ability to walk on the shore and take in the lovely ocean view, as well as discuss the options of which areas are the most intriguing to visit.




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