Reefton itself is a small west coast town that is a perfect resting point between Christchurch and Nelson. The town was founded around 1870 and was a hub for innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. The town owes its initial growth, in part, to the discovery of gold in a quartz reef. Reefton’s name comes from that reef, as does the nickname Quartzopolis.

As the gold rush spirit died, the town’s population declined, only to be revived with new industries, including coal mining and foresting. Innovation and entrepreneurship accompanied the various industries. And, in 1888, Reefton became New Zealand’s first town with electricity – earning it the name ‘Town of Light’.

Reefton’s history can be seen throughout the town and the wider region. Many of the buildings in the town retain their classic styles, while there is a Bearded Mining Company at the Miners Hut in the city that replicas the nature of life in Reefton back in the 1860s.