Main Centres: Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika are just some of the exciting towns!
Map and Travel Instructions: Just making sure you find us!
Climate: Never too hot, never too cold!
Facts: Why the West Coast is also called the Best Coast!
Other Attractions and Activities: You'd better visit us for a few years!

Main Centres
Westport
Main town in the north of the region with 4600 inhabitants and located at the mouth of the mighty fish rich Buller River. The town was established in 1861 by gold miners and large amounts of gold were found in the district. There is still gold in the area and there is nothing to stop you panning for it.

West Coast River Scene

Hokitika
Main town in the south West Coast and host to the West Coast Museum, craft galleries, many historic buildings and the native fish of New Zealand aquarium.

Map and Travel Instructions
Access to the region is easy and spectacularly scenic. You can reach the Coast through the Buller Gorge from Picton or Nelson, from Christchurch through the Lewis Pass via historic Reefton or over the high alpine Arthur's Pass and from Queenstown through Haast Pass. The roads are easy to drive and not crowded at all. Rental cars are available.

There are many bus companies regularly travelling to and from the West Coast.

Westport has its own airport serviced by Air New Zealand Link via Wellington or by chartered aircraft flights to and from Christchurch. The closest international airports are Christchurch and Wellington.

Find a road and guiding location map here.

Climate

Facts
Why The West Coast Is Also Called "The Best Coast":

What a Magical Spot

• The West Coast area is 10% of New Zealand's surface with less than 1% of the population. Imagine the potential!
• This is a place were nature is still the way nature was created, 90% of the Coast are protected reserves and national parks.
• People consider the Coast as one of the most beautiful places in the country and we are sure you will agree.
• Here there is no saying "the good old days"; we are still in the good old days.
• The West Coast has 100% wild and self-sustaining fisheries where the Brown Trout is king. Some good Rainbow Trout, Salmon and Kahawai are also found.
• If it is solitude, adventure and outstanding fishing in the great outdoors you are after, you will find it here. If you are after easy access or remote area fishing, you will find both here. If you are after a family holiday, with the chance to sneak away for some fishing, you can do that here too. What else can you ask for? We probably have that here too!

It's all in the net!

• Karamea: Oparara arches and honeycomb caves with Honeycombe Cave Tours.
• Westport: Cape Foulwind seal colony and the Coal Town Museum for a Coast discovery.
• Westport: Top adventure activities with Buller Adventure Tours.
• Westport: Visit the Miners microbrewery and taste some of the best beers ever.
• Charlestone: Rafting subterranean streams, surrounded by amazing formations & glow-worms with Norwest Adventures.
• Between Westport and Greymouth is a wild, ruggedly beautiful Coastline that features the unique Pancake Rocks and blowholes at Punakaiki. Visit the uniquely stunning Paparoa National Park. Take enough film! Bird lovers visit the worlds only Black Petrel breeding grounds.
• Greymouth: Jade Gallery or try your hand at gold panning at Shantytown, a replica gold field town.
• Lake Brunner and Moana, for dream scenery.
• Hokitika: Working artisans, galleries and the Native Fish of New Zealand aquarium.
• Lake Kaniere and Hokitika Gorge for water lovers.
• Whataroa: On the shores of the Okarito Lagoon is New Zealand's only nesting colony of the white heron.
• Fox and Franz Josef: Graded glacier trips for every level of fitness and experience. There are scenic flights and helicopter excursions for those who wish to view the glaciers from the air.
• Fox: Visit post card picturesque Lake Matheson.
• The whole West Coast region offers a variety of short scenic walks and hiking opportunities, as well as a huge range of exciting adventure activities for all ages and levels of competence. Check out our links for details.