Shanty Town Heritage Park is a tourist attraction in New Zealand that recreates a 19th-century gold-mining town. It has over 30 historic buildings, a steam train, a museum, a sawmill, a gold panning area, and more. You can learn about the history and culture of the West Coast region and the pioneers who searched for gold there. It is located near Greymouth and Hokitika on New Zealand's West Coast.
Gold mining in New Zealand began in the 19th century, when prospectors discovered gold in various regions, such as the Coromandel Peninsula, Otago, and the West Coast. The gold rushes attracted thousands of people, including many from China, who hoped to strike it rich. The gold was found in both hard rocks and alluvial deposits, and different methods of mining were used, such as tunnelling, panning, sluicing, dredging, and using stamper batteries. Gold mining had a significant impact on the economy, the environment, and the society of New Zealand.