Northern Buller Museum is the place to start if Granity's old coal coast feels hard to read. It stands on a historic coke-oven site and fills several buildings with mining, sawmilling, school, household, and railway material from Granity, Millerton, Stockton, and Seddonville.
The museum is small and volunteer-run, so check hours before building a day around it. Even a short visit gives useful context before you drive up to Millerton or head into the old tramway country.