Greymouth is gray by name and nature. It’s a former gold mining town and there is very little to see and do. The best thing about Greymouth is the hostel we stayed in – Global Village. It has an 86% BBH rating which speaks for itself. Much of the interior is painted orange (other hostels take note – we don’t want to stay somewhere that seems like an institution) and the décor has an African them. It’s really well-equipped. You can borrow kayaks, bikes, fishing gear, golf clubs etc for free. It has decking overlooking the grey river. There is free tea and coffee and muffins also. Girls – they have hairdryers in the bathrooms. It’s a 10-minute walk from town. All this for NZ$18 a night.
If you insist on stopping in Greymouth (avoid if you can), this is a lovely, clean place to stay.