Mountain Jade Backpackers Hokitika
Mountain Jade | Our Story
We are a small, family-run business who have been carving greenstone for three generations. Craft is at the heart of everything we do, from the selection of the raw stone through to the final finishing touches. From humble beginnings, we’ve grown to be recognised leaders in the art of carving jade with stores in Rotorua, Hokitika and Auckland Airport. We’re deeply connected to the jade that we use and love spending time in the workshop carving life into stone.
Jade Hunting in Hokitika, Franz Josef Glacier & GLOW WORM CAVES in New Zealand!!
We had beautiful weather return, perfect timing for our morning jade hunting in Hokitika -- later the Franz Josef Glacier Hike and after the sun went down, finding the GLOW WORM CAVES in New Zealand!!
Mountain Jade | FREE Jade Carving Tour
Every day you can join a free guided tour of our jade carving workshops in Rotorua and Hokitika.
While exploring our workshop, you'll meet New Zealand's finest jade artists and see how they transform raw stone into carved art. We'll take you on a journey into the important role pounamu plays in Maori culture, exploring its traditional uses and values and uncovering the long-standing tradition of jade carving in New Zealand.
Hokitika - Pounamu, NZ Jade, Greenstone - West Coast, New Zealand
Hokitika - thecoollittletown.com
Hokitika on the West Coast of New Zealand is the birthplace of Pounamu, NZ jade.
For a small town we struck it rich in the resources stakes.
Before the gold rushes Maori were already heading here in search of another precious stone -- pounamu. The Arahura River is the birthplace of pounamu which is also known as greenstone or New Zealand jade.
Pounamu was prized for its strength, durability and beauty and used for weapons, tools and personal ornaments -- it also denoted great status.
Today's travelers still head here in search of pounamu, but these days it is found in the many shops and galleries. Visitors can learn about it, search for it, watch it being carved, shop for it, and even carve it themselves.
Carvers work in their studios, producing beautiful jewellery and ornaments from the stone, which can be bright green, mottled yellow gold, dark or even flecked in red or blue. You can chat to the carver about the origins of the pounamu or the design.
For the fossicker there is still the chance you can find a bit of your own, it's not uncommon to find small pieces on the beach that have been washed down in a storm. Maori tradition says it is bad luck to buy pounamu for yourself so make sure you have someone there to purchase it for you.
For more information, visit Hokitika at
Carve Your Own Greenstone in Hokitika - New Zealand's Biggest Gap Year – BackpackerGuide.NZ
Day 117: Today we are going to Bonz ‘N’ Stonz where you can carve your own greenstone in Hokitika! We are going to be carving greenstone in Hokitika to make our own jade pendants. Join us for the experience as part of our 365 Days: 365 Activities in New Zealand!
Yesterday - Day 116 ➜
Tomorrow – Day 118 ➜
30 Tips for Backpacking in New Zealand ➜
-- About this video --
Today, we are heading to Bonz ‘N” Stonz to carve our own greenstone in Hokitika! We will be greenstone carving in Hokitika to carve each other a Maori greenstone pendant!
Greenstone is also known as jade or pounamu in Maori. We head to Bonz ‘N’ Stonz where we meet Steve. We have been planning our jade designs for a few days now that we are going to carve for each other and today we are finally revealing our designs. Steve helps us tweak our designs then it’s time to choose the greenstone we are going to carve.
The jade carving in Hokitika starts in the jade carving studio which is a long but fun and therapeutic process. We take plenty of breaks in between and enjoy a nice chilled day of carving greenstone necklaces.
Our jade pendants are really coming together and with some polishing, our carved jade pendants look really professional! Now we have an awesome greenstone souvenir to remember our time in New Zealand!
So what do you think of carve your own jade in Hokitika? Is carving your own greenstone pendant something you would add to your New Zealand bucket list?
#NZMustDo #BackpackerGuideNZ #Hokitika #WestCoastNZ #NewZealand #TravelNewZealand #NewZealandVlog
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-- New Zealand Biggest Gap Year --
365 Days: 365 Activities
BackpackerGuide.NZ is New Zealand’s biggest online travel guide for adventure and budget travel in New Zealand. Join us, as the team behind BackpackerGuide.NZ, Robin and Laura, update the travel guide while taking on 365 Days: 365 Activities in New Zealand! It’s New Zealand’s Biggest Gap Year! We release new videos of the New Zealand backpacking adventure every single day, as well as New Zealand travel tips and 360 videos every Sunday so start making your New Zealand bucket list!
Read more about carving jade in Hokitika on New Zealand’s biggest guide for backpackers:
-- More about Things to Do in Hokitika in New Zealand –
6 Reasons Why Hokitika is Such a Cool Little Town ➜
10 Tips to Find Greenstone in Hokitika ➜
23 Unforgettable Walks in Hokitika ➜
Exploring Hokitika - New Zealand's Biggest Gap Year – Backpacker Guide New Zealand
Day 113: Today we are in the New Zealand West Coast town of Hokitika, otherwise known as Jade Country and we’ll show you where to see that amazing Hokitika Sunset!
Yesterday - Day 112 ➜
Tomorrow – Day 114 ➜
30 Tips for Backpacking in New Zealand ➜
-- About this video --
Today we are exploring the New Zealand West Coast town of Hokitika! Hokitika is famous for being the Jade Country or having a lot of greenstone or pounamu so our mission today is to get some greenstone pendant inspiration so that we can carve our own greenstone for each other in a couple of days time.
We check out some Hokitika jade stores and Hokitika greenstone stores to find out about the greenstone meanings and see some greenstone carvers at work. Oh yeah, and we also check out Sock World in Hokitika too, which is a Hokitika sock museum.
Once inspired, we head down to Hokitkia Beach where we spend time designing our greenstone pendants for each other until the sun starts to set. Now we get to see that famous Hokitika sunset! This is one of the best places to see the New Zealand sunset!
After a relaxed but cool day in Hokitika, we head back to our hostel, the Mountain Jade Backpackers.
So what do you think of the West Coast town of Hokitika? Would you stop here while travelling the New Zealand South Island? Let us know!
#NZMustDo #BackpackerGuideNZ #Hokitika #WestCoastNZ #NewZealand #TravelNewZealand #NewZealandVlog
Subscribe ➜
Share ➜
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-- New Zealand Biggest Gap Year --
365 Days: 365 Activities
BackpackerGuide.NZ is New Zealand’s biggest online travel guide for adventure and budget travel in New Zealand. Join us, as the team behind BackpackerGuide.NZ, Robin and Laura, update the travel guide while taking on 365 Days: 365 Activities in New Zealand! It’s New Zealand’s Biggest Gap Year! We release new videos of the New Zealand backpacking adventure every single day, as well as New Zealand travel tips and 360 videos every Sunday so start making your New Zealand bucket list!
Read more about Hokitika on New Zealand’s biggest guide for backpackers:
-- More about Things to Do in Hokitika in New Zealand –
6 Reasons Why Hokitika is Such a Cool Little Town ➜
10 Tips to Find Greenstone in Hokitika ➜
23 Unforgettable Walks in Hokitika ➜
Jade Carving in Hokitika, N.Z.
While many shops in N.Z. will have jade, this one is carving it (and many other stones) right in front of you, you can walk right through, ask questions, very friendly.
Greenstone Jade Factory- Hokitika NZ
A visit to the jade factory to see how jewelry is made
Hokitika, New Zealand
Hokitika a small town at the heart of the West Coast of New Zealand
Bonz n Stonz, carve your own jade, bone or paua in Hokitika
Interested in an experience which will last a life-time?
Visit Bonz 'n Stonz Carving Studio & Gallery. Design and carve your own unique piece of jewellry or purchase a one of piece carved by a renowned local artist. bonz-n-stonz.co.nz
Mountain Jade | FREE Carving Workshop Tour
Join a FREE guided tour of our workshop to discover how we carve jade, by hand. Meet New Zealand's finest greenstone artists and see them at work transforming raw stone into carved art. Learn how they use modern tools to design, shape and finish each unique piece to the highest level.
Take a journey into the rich history of New Zealand pounamu and uncover its traditional uses and values. Explore the cultural influences behind our designs and discover the ancient Māori beliefs that jade lives and breathes. Learn how greenstone is formed deep within the earth and get up close to different types of jade from around the world - discovering the incredible variations in colours, textures and features.
This small group, personalised experience is FREE and runs daily. No bookings are required, tours last approximately 15 minutes and all ages are welcome. Come and discover the beauty of jade!
Rotorua: Tour runs on demand 10am- 5pm daily.
Hokitika: Tour runs 9.30am & 2.30pm, daily.
Tectonic Jade, Hokitika, South Island, NZ
Tectonic Jade, Hokitika, South Island, NZ
2nd prt of our journey - Looking for Green stone Hokitika
While in Hokitika you have to go and hunt for Green stone, walking along the beach we scouted for the rare stone. There were plenty of stones and some unusual ones at that, we found a few which we thought may have been Green stone which now sit in our garden.
We never got to check them but hay lets just say we found Green stone :-)
The Jade Factory, Hokitika, South Island, NZ
The Jade Factory, Hokitika, South Island, NZ
Carving Series | Fish Hook
Stop motion video of a fish hook (hei matau) being carved.
Upper Greenstone Valley Hunt
Weekend fallow hunt in the upper Greenstone block, Sept 2015
First time with Gopro hero 3+ so excuse the shaky bits
day24 hokitika Jade seach
Hokitika Gorge Walk - New Zealand's Biggest Gap Year – Backpacker Guide New Zealand
Day 114: Today we are going to the stunning Hokitika Gorge on the South Island West Coast to do the Hokitika Gorge Walk. This place is so beautiful you won’t believe it exists! Join us for today’s New Zealand vlog where we are doing 365 Days: 365 Activities.
Yesterday - Day 113 ➜
Tomorrow – Day 115 ➜
30 Tips for Backpacking in New Zealand ➜
-- About this video --
After waking up in the Mountain Jade Backpackers in Hokitika, we are taking the 20-minute drive to Hokitika Gorge to do the Hokitika Gorge Walk.
When we arrive at the car park for Hokitika Gorge, there are heaps of information signs telling us about the walk and surrounding flora and fauna. Then we head on our way down to the gorge.
On the way down on the Hokitika Gorge Walk, we get glimpses of the gorge and it’s famous swing bridge on the way. We see the milky blue waters of the Hokitika Gorge among grey rock sides and lush green vegetation. Right here is one of the most stunning places in New Zealand.
We make our way down to the Hokitika Gorge Swing Bridge where we get lots of photos then the walk continues down to the river itself. After spending way too much time loving the New Zealand scenery, we head back to that famous Hokitika Gorge swingbridge and back to Hokitika.
So what do you think of Hokitika Gorge? Is it one of the things to do on the South Island you would add to your New Zealand must-do list?
#NZMustDo #BackpackerGuideNZ #Hokitika #WestCoastNZ #NewZealand #TravelNewZealand #NewZealandVlog
Subscribe ➜
Share ➜
Web ➜
Connect on Social Media
YouTube Channel ➜
FB ➜
IG ➜
Pinterest ➜
Twitter ➜
-- New Zealand Biggest Gap Year --
365 Days: 365 Activities
BackpackerGuide.NZ is New Zealand’s biggest online travel guide for adventure and budget travel in New Zealand. Join us, as the team behind BackpackerGuide.NZ, Robin and Laura, update the travel guide while taking on 365 Days: 365 Activities in New Zealand! It’s New Zealand’s Biggest Gap Year! We release new videos of the New Zealand backpacking adventure every single day, as well as New Zealand travel tips and 360 videos every Sunday so start making your New Zealand bucket list!
Read more about Hokitika on New Zealand’s biggest guide for backpackers:
-- More about Things to Do in Hokitika in New Zealand –
6 Reasons Why Hokitika is Such a Cool Little Town ➜
10 Tips to Find Greenstone in Hokitika ➜
23 Unforgettable Walks in Hokitika ➜