Buller Gorge - Hawks Crag

Westport is at the mouth of the largest West Coast river, the Buller. State Highway 6 follows the river through its gorges to connect with Nelson and Canterbury. The Gorge provided a route for the early explorers. There is a memorial to pioneer, Thomas Brunner.
Today’s traveller does not have to face the same hardships but can enjoy the river and bush-clad hill scenery along the way. However the route has proved too rugged for a rail link. At times, the road climbs up high but if you keep your eyes peeled, you may see canoeists or rafters in the river below.
The river offers Grade 2-4 rafting, jet boating, and trout and whitebait fishing.
Look out for the site of the gold mining town at Lyell. There is a picnic spot here and DOC has erected interpretation displays about the town and the Lyell walkway.
A notable section of the Buller Gorge Highway occurs where it has been carved out of a bluff. Hawk Crag, where the road is overshadowed by bluffs, has become the starting point for the annual Buller Gorge marathon
In the 1950s it briefly became famous when Uranium ore was discovered here.
In 1896, as the “Imperial Album of New Zealand Scenery “ tells us, it was notorious because the road was so narrow.

"The most dangerous part of the road is Hawks’ Crag-where the coach has for some distance to wend its way along a narrow ledge cut out of the solid rock, and a sharp look-out has to be kept and advantage taken of parts here and there, where there is just room to pass another vehicle. Hawks’ Crag is halfway between Westport and Mangahua1 Junction.”

Image : Hawks Crag, Buller River, 1873, by William M Cooper. Acquisition history unknown. Te Papa (1992-0035-1667)