Murchison

Murchison is a rural service town in the Tasman Region of the South Island, New Zealand; it is located approximately halfway between Westport and Nelson.

Murchison is known as the 'whitewater capital' of the country, because there are rivers everywhere in and around the town such as the Gowan, Mangles, Matiri, Glenroy, Matakitaki, Maruia and the mighty Buller. They are all great spots for canoeing, kayaking, rafting, jet boating, gold panning and fishing. The rivers are not for the faint hearted as they differ from Class 2 to 4 whitewater.

There is also some other great activities on land including several excellent mountain bike trails in the area. You can also learn more about Murchison's history and how it was almost completely destroyed by a huge earthquake in 1929 at the district museum.

Murchison History

The district is full of history from the days of the gold miners and early settlers. Lyell, once one of the largest gold mining settlements in the South Island, is nearby, and offers an interesting example of how quickly the bush can wipe away traces of civilization.

Main Towns in the Nelson Region

Other Towns in the Nelson Region

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Shotover Jet Blast Ride (NZ0007) $119

From the moment the accelerator hits the floor your adrenaline hits the roof, as you speed in mere centimetres of water along the famous Shotover River and deep into the spectacular Shotover River Canyons.

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Hanmer Springs Jet Boat, Raft, Quad Bike and Bungy Awesome Foursome Combo (NZ0061) $440

Jet the entire length of Hanmer's spectacular Waiau Gorge, raft down the Waiau Gorge Canyon and see the surrounding countryside, put yourself in control of a four-wheel quad bike and ride down river crossings, mud, dust and dirt tracks and leap off the historic 135 year old Ferry Bridge for a 35 metre free-fall to the river canyon below.