New Zealand

West Coast

Region

The West Coast stretches as a narrow strip for about 600 kilometers along the South Island, between the Tasman Sea and the Southern Alps.

by Felix Gillen

The West Coast stretches as a narrow strip for about 600 kilometers along the South Island, between the Tasman Sea and the Southern Alps. Rainforest, wild beaches, and rivers characterize the landscape; the towns are small and spread far apart.In the north await the limestone landscapes of Paparoa and Kahurangi, in the center the old gold mining towns of Greymouth and Hokitika, and in the south the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. Most travelers drive the entire coast.

The West Coast is New Zealand's most sparsely populated region. Its largest town is Greymouth, with Westport to the north and Hokitika in the centre. State Highway 6 connects all towns along the coast and serves as the region's main route. Arthur's Pass, Lewis Pass, and Haast Pass lead to the South Island's East Coast. Allow at least four to five days for the entire journey.

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Buller Distrikt

The Buller District forms the northern West Coast, its main town Westport at the mouth of the Buller River. Inland, the river cuts through the Buller Gorge.

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Gletscherregion (Franz Josef & Fox Glacier)

In Westland Tai Poutini National Park, two glaciers extend from the Southern Alps deep into the rainforest: Franz Josef and Fox Glacier.

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Greymouth

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Hokitika

Hokitika is a small town on the South Island's West Coast, founded during the 1860s gold rush. Today, it's known for Pounamu workshops, its driftwood beach, and as a gateway to the turquoise Hokitika Gorge.

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More places in West Coast

Punakaiki

Punakaiki is a small town on State Highway 6 between Greymouth and Westport, right on the edge of Paparoa National Park. It is known for the Pancake Rocks at Dolomite Point: limestone rocks that look like stacked pancakes. At high tide and strong surf, water shoots upwards through the blowholes.Behind the coast, limestone gorges with Nikau palms and rainforest begin. Plan at least half a day if you want to explore one of the river trails in addition to the rocks.

Sights in West Coast

Discover the most important sights and attractions

Mt Tuhua Track Trailhead

Park in 592 Dorothy Falls Road.

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Essen & Trinken

Mitchells Restaurant

Restaurant in 1950 Kumara Inchbonnie Road.

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Culture and History

For the Māori, the West Coast Te Tai Poutini is the home of Pounamu. The greenstone from the rivers was a valuable trade good, and Hokitika remains a centre for Pounamu carving to this day.Gold and CoalWith the gold rush of the 1860s, the towns along the coast grew rapidly. Many gold mining settlements have disappeared again; later, coal mining around Greymouth and Westport shaped the region.

On the road on the West Coast

Having your own car or a camper is the easiest solution; long-distance buses only run a few times a day along the coast. The TranzAlpine connects Christchurch with Greymouth. Expect a lot of rain and occasional road closures after storms; check road conditions with NZTA before you travel. Petrol stations are rare in the south, so fill up your tank in good time.

Round trips through this region

New Zealand South Island Road Trip In-depth

The route leads from Lake Tekapo to Aoraki/Mount Cook, on to Queenstown and Te Anau, then via Wanaka and Haast Pass to the West Coast glaciers. From Te Anau, it’s just over two hours’ drive to Milford Sound; Wanaka to Franz Josef is about four hours.

15 Days

6 stops

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Hokitika

Greymouth

Greymouth, Māwhera in Māori, is at the mouth of the Grey River and the largest town on the West Coast. Gold and coal made it thrive in the 19th century; today it's mainly a service hub and the TranzAlpine's terminus from Christchurch.The centre is small and quick to explore. For a day, highlights include the brewery, a walk along the river, and trips into the surrounding area, to Shantytown or the Brunner Mine.

Punakaiki

Gletscherregion (Franz Josef & Fox Glacier)

In Westland Tai Poutini National Park, two glaciers extend from the Southern Alps deep into the rainforest: Franz Josef and Fox Glacier. The two namesake villages are located about 25 kilometers apart on State Highway 6 and serve as the base for glacier hikes, helicopter flights, and valley walks.Both glaciers have retreated significantly in recent decades. Today, you can only access the ice with guided Heli-Hikes; the valley paths end at viewpoints at a distance from the glacier terminus.

Buller Distrikt

The Buller District forms the northern West Coast, its main town Westport at the mouth of the Buller River. Inland, the river cuts through the Buller Gorge. Along the coast are Cape Foulwind, with its seal colony, and old mining settlements like Denniston and Millerton.Further north, the road ends in Karamea. From there, you can reach the Oparara Arches in Kahurangi National Park and the southern end of the Heaphy Track.