Sunday, October 28, 2012

Enchantment in the Historic City of Hokitika

By Margery Pick


Like many other areas around the world, the city and area around hokitika accommodation was born from the fever of those seeking their fortune in gold. 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. The interesting beginning of Hokitika in the 1860s moved towards the future with several areas of development.

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.

Others quickly followed those who headed towards the goldfields and the growth of businesses and citizens around the Hokitika area. The construction of a port led to even further activity in the area, as sea travel made it easier to send and receive goods and supplies. The toll of life and damage earned the reputation of a dangerous port, although it was the 1950s before it lost the designation of official port of entry. 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. Although population has declined, the area continues to thrive. Tourism is one of the area's largest businesses today.

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. Local shops have an assortment of rings and other jewelry items to admire and purchase, many made from local materials by resident artists. Whether they are designing statues or jewelry, the artisans use local assets like driftwood. 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. Shops, the beach and other areas of interest are within walking distance.

Quality upscale rooms encourage the relaxation some guests crave after a day of touring the sites in the area. Trees and gardens, part of the beauty of this area, provide a habitat for many lovely creatures such as birds and butterflies. 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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