The recently restored brakehead at Denniston
At Denniston, premium coal was mined from a lonely landscape in the clouds. Today you can visit the dramatic location of one of New Zealand's most significant industrial sites.
Denniston is a 25 minute drive on sealed roads north of Westport.
Find out about the history of this coal mining settlement and what you'll see when you get there.
See the work done to conserve this special place and its history.
Get a list of useful resources including publications and website links.
Denniston was the main township of a collection of mining towns built to service the nearby coal mines. It offers magnificent views down to the coastal plains of the Karamea Bight and the mouth of the Waimangaroa River.
Denniston on the West Coast is steeped in coal mining history. Here you can glimpse how it was to live here. Watch this video and discover what locals called the ‘eighth wonder of the world’.
Icon sites tell a range of great stories about kiwi identity and are located in beautiful natural settings.
The value of conservation
New Zealand Historic Places Trust www.historic.org.nz
International Council on Monuments and Sites www.icomos.org
Ministry for Culture and Heritage www.mch.govt.nz
New Zealand Archaeological Association www.nzarchaeology.org
