Kumara – Small Town, Big Tales, and a Lot of Heart
Tucked between the wild West Coast rainforest and the dramatic Southern Alps, Kumara (pronounced ku‑MAR‑a) is a teeny town with big stories to tell. Once a gold‑rush hotspot overflowing with pubs, prospectors, and promise, Kumara back in its heyday featured nearly 50 pubs, its own hospital, courthouse, newspaper and more West Coast Recollect+15Kumara West Coast+15Kumara West Coast+15.
Today, with a population of around 300 locals, it’s calm—but don’t let that fool you. The West Coast Wilderness Trail cruises right through town, and cyclists, bush walkers, hunters, fishers, and history buffs all come calling Wikipedia+2Kumara West Coast+2Kumara West Coast+2.
Here’s the truly legendary part: Richard John “King Dick” Seddon, New Zealand’s longest‑serving Prime Minister (1893–1906), got his political start here. He ran hotels, a store, and even a butchery in Kumara, got elected as Kumara’s first mayor in 1877, and then eventually ruled the country for 13 years—all while retaining his West Coast accent!