Image: Baptiste Maryns | ©
Information boards at Denniston Mine.
Denniston Brakehead walks

Located in Denniston area in the West Coast region

Take a historic walk on the same tracks that residents and miners used over a hundred years ago and explore the many relics still present.

Denniston has a history rich in coal mining and pioneering spirit. Wild and remote, the township was once bursting with life. Although many of the industrial and domestic buildings have long gone, remnants of the town and the many mines remain as an evocative reminder of life on ‘The Hill’. Denniston has world-class interpretation and spectacular scenery making it a must do destination.

Brakehead Walk

Time: 1 hr loop 
Distance: 2 km

Starting from the car park above the Brakehead, this walk leads to a viewpoint at the top of the famous Denniston incline, past Denniston’s first settlement ‘The Camp’ and on to the Banbury Arch (a drystone arch) viewpoint. It returns via the historic mine workshop site. You can see many relics from Denniston’s past on this walk.

Lower car park to viewing platform

Time: 5 min return
Distance: 150 m return

Continue driving from the main car park to the mobility car park. From here follow the track through the shelter to the viewing platform, which gives views out to the Tasman Sea and down the famous incline. This track is accessible for assisted wheelchairs. Return to the carpark the way you came and explore the Brakehead site further.

Coalbrookdale Walk

Time: 1 hr return
Distance: 2 km

A good gravel road behind Denniston (still used by coal trucks) leads to the start of the walkway that follows part of the cable-car rope road that carried coal from the mines to the top of the Denniston Incline. Relics include tunnels, foundations, a haulage winch and the country's best remaining example of a mine fanhouse.

Denniston is 18 km northeast of Westport (approximately 30 mins drive). From Westport, follow SH 67 north for 15 km. Turn right at Waimangaroa onto the road to Denniston. Turn left at the top of the road to access the Brakehead car park.

Facilities

Two information kiosks/shelters, picnic tables and toilets.

What to expect

Elevation change: +/- 70 m

Hazards

Rapidly changing weather – this is a sup alpine environment. Always know the forecast and take warm and waterproof clothing as the weather can change rapidly.

Historic structures are present, exercise caution, observe all signage and supervise children at all times. 

The Denniston plateau has a wide range of plants and animals including low podocarp-beech forest, manuka and Dracophyllum scrub, tussock grassland and pakihi/wetland areas provide for a wide variety of plants and animals. It is possible to hear the great-spotted kiwi (roroa) calling at night.

The plateau is also home to the nationally endangered species of carnivorous land snail Powelliphanta patrickensis.

Denniston has a history rich in coal mining and pioneering spirit. Wild and remote, the township was once bursting with life. Although many of the industrial and domestic buildings have long gone, remnants of the town and the many mines remain as an evocative reminder of life on ‘The Hill’.

For many decades Denniston was New Zealand's largest producing coal mining area. Today its significance is reflected by its status as a Category 1 Historic Place.

Read about Denniston's history.