[1] In 1862 Bill Fox's prospecting activities in the Arrow district excited intense interest.

He prospected widely for gold and first discovered it at Fox Creek, a tributary of the Arahura River behind Hokitika, in January 1865.

He led the party on 20 km north to where Charleston would later be, but although they found gold in the sand there, it was too fine to save.

So Fox went south to Ōkārito to find out how the miners there were extracting it from fine sand.

At first, goods going to 'Parkeese' were landed at Woodpecker Bay, south of Fox River, and humped about 20 km north to the goldfield.

Unlike its more famous American namesake, the town's name is generally pronounced with three syllables (/ˈtʃɑːrləstən/).

Brighton was a much bigger town at the start, but Charleston lasted longer and the two have been confused in places.

Charleston is littered with old gold workings and one should watch for old mining shafts which are hidden throughout the area.

The Waitakere or Nile River emerges just north of Charleston from an area rich in limestone cliffs and caves.

Cave and rafting tours operate from Charleston into the Nile River valley, including a short bush tram track for part of the transport.