If you're road-tripping from Abel Tasman, Murchison is right on the way before you hit State Highway 6, also known as the Great Coast Road and one of the most scenic drives in the country. It might look like a quiet little town on the map, but don’t let that fool you.

Things to do in Murchison

It’s jam-packed full of rivers and known as the “whitewater capital” of New Zealand. This town is an outdoor lover's dream and home to some of the country's best kayaking, canoeing and rafting.

The town’s most famous for the Buller River and Buller Gorge, which boasts New Zealand’s longest suspension bridge! This is well worth stopping at, even if you’re only passing through on your way to the West Coast.

If you don’t fancy the sound of hurtling down rapids (I don’t blame you!), there are plenty of other things to do. Go gold-panning, explore one of the walking tracks or see the tiny little town. However, the most popular alternative to whitewater activities is Maruia Falls. Although the waterfall is only 10m high, it’s wide, powerful, and seriously impressive. There’s a short 5-minute track that leads down to the base of the falls. If you plan on visiting Maruia Falls, please do not swim or try to get any closer to the falls as it’s very dangerous.