ROSS Leaving Hokitika it is not long until Ross is on the horizon. Ross also has a history tied up with the discovery of Gold. Ross is a gold rush town, and it is stated that Ross, the township to this day still sitting on main seam rich in Gold. Ross is also a pretty place with two hotels, a living museum, war memorial and church, and so to that end is qualifiable town for investigation. The town's chief industries are farming and forestry. Ross as stated was an important centre during the West Coast gold rush of the 1860s. Since 1988 a large open cast mine has operated adjacent to the town. A vibrant Westland community on the Glacier Highway, 20 minutes south of Hokitika. The gateway to the Ross Goldfields Heritage Area is the Information Centre Visit the shop, and you might try panning for gold, or take a guided walk and chat to our knowledgeable team. Ross NZ, a must visit if you are into gold, mid 1800’s and gold rush era and just south of Ross is a monument to the engineers and surveyors who built the highway