Tuesday 4 September 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. Yielding to the call of adventure, thousands of people headed towards the unsettled area if New Zealand called the West Coast. This modern city owes much to those who came searching for gold. 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.

The population continued to grow and by 1867, Hokitika was one of the largest centers of residents in the country. 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. 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. At times, ships were required to wait offshore until some of the forty or more ships in the harbor departed.

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. 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.

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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