Ross Revisited
The tiny West Coast settlement of Ross plays homage to its gold town past. It’s easy to drive straight through this township as you venture down ‘the Coast’ to more familiar attractions such as Fox Glacier or Franz Josef. Ross is about a 25-minute drive from Hokitika and I confess that although I’ve been to Hoki many times I have always tended to take the sharp right turn through Ross and continue on my journey, most times telling myself that one time I would like to stop and explore this historic gold town with its tourist signs depicting its golden past.
Eventually I did make that stop. I actually made a point of staying overnight in Ross itself - something that I never imagined I would do. The Ross Campsite is something of a secret gem. I’m not sure how I found about it but boy I am so grateful I did. What a hidden joy. Situated a short distance outside the main settlement it is right beside the beach and is a wonderful spot to spend a night or two. In fact I could possibly stay a week!
The facilities are excellent and the camp makes good use of its natural surroundings. A backdrop of native bush separates each of the areas. You can camp amongst it or even pull up by the beach if you so wish. On a calm night watching the sun set into the ocean it would be surely worth it. I love staying the containers the site owners have creatively turned into sparkling accommodation options. There are quite a number dotted around the park and all offer a comfortable indoor and outdoor space to relax in.
One of the container accommodation options at the Ross Campsite, West Coast
Double or single beds, ensuites and tiny kitchen units provide all you need. Outside are private decks surrounded by bush with cheeky fan tails for company.
The private deck surrounded by native West Coast bush
There is a BBQ to cook on and even a Nespresso machine for those morning caffeine cravings. The site has its own barrista service available, a spa pool which can be booked in allocated slot times, and a pizza oven.
A handy kitchen with Nespresso machine
The best feature though is the short stroll to the rugged West Coast beach. Scattered with tree trunks, stones and sometimes snoozing seals and penguins it’s a great spot to lay your blanket out and a light up a beach fire with the dried wood. A glass of pinot noir in hand with the warmth of the fire glowing on your face it’s one of my absolute favourite spots for a stunning West Coast sunset. Especially when the rustic orange orb of the setting sun sinks majestically into the Tasman Sea in front of you. My only beware though is the resident sandflies, that really do suck! Persistent savages even with full body armour and plenty of repellent spray on they linger, always determined to win the battle with you in their little slice of paradise.
The West Coast of New Zealand, wilderness
If you can tear yourself away from this idyllic spot - trust me it’s hard, then the short trip into Ross is worth the while. My next article will focus on the Ross the gold town.