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New Day Trip for Visitors to the West Coast
The pastures and rainforests of the West Coast are narrowly packed between ocean and mountain, and bisected by fast-flowing rivers. It is a destination that promises wilderness and adventure - which is exactly what a new day trip provided by Outwest Tours delivers.
Tours of Solid Energy's Stockton Opencast Mine on the Stockton Plateau are now available to the public exclusively through Outwest Tours. Mickey and Doreen Ryan, owner-operators of Outwest Tours, and their tour guides, are local, experienced drivers (many also former miners) familiar with the terrain and the history of the area.
The Stockton Mine tour leaves Westport and passes through several small towns before ascending to the Plateau. It delivers an adrenalin-fuelled, scenic off-road adventure in the company's specially-adapted Unimogs and Land Rovers.
Stockton Mine is the largest coal producing mine in New Zealand, averaging 8,000 tons per 24-hour shift. Here, visitors are shown around the site and have mining, cleaning, sorting and blending processes explained to them.
Visitors then enjoy a picnic on the ridgeline, with stunning coastline and mountain views, before descending to coastal Ngakawau.
The tour leaves at about 9:00am and arrives back in Westport about 3:30pm. Changeable weather on the Stockton Plateau may have an impact on tour times. Cancellations are possible. Check the website for more detail.
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