Making great family memories
Simple pleasures
There is nothing quite like the great outdoors to set the scene and inspire memorable family times.
We’ve found five adventure ideas set on the West Coast to help inspire and plan your next family get-away. Something to suit every age, taste for adventure and holiday budget, and it's all closer than you think. Experience some of our most iconic locations; choose from biking, kayaking, tramping, camping, caving or watching the sun go down as you warm your toes around your beach bonfire.
Cape Foulwind Walkway, Westport
An easy stroll along the Cape Foulwind Walkway leads to great views of NZ fur seals.
BEACH ESCAPADES — SURF, SEALS, BIKES AND BONFIRES
Timber is something the West Coast has in abundance. Tons of it ends up as driftwood on the beaches and, with 600 km of uncrowded beaches, there’s plenty for everyone. Stay over — in a camp, cabin or family apartment — at Carter’s Beach Top 10 with the wide sandy beach on your doorstep. There’s a playground for the children, grass for picnics and readymade piles of silvery driftwood. Spend the day building castles in the sand, beachcombing and gathering driftwood for your bonfire then finish it off under the stars toasting some marshmallows in the embers.
Optional extras:
- surfing lessons for all the family at Tauranga Bay with West Coast Surf or Bazils Hostel & Surf School
- biking the cycle paths beside the beachfront
- walking to the seal colony at nearby Cape Foulwind Walkway
- fish and chips on the beach
West Coast Wilderness Trail
Riding the waterways around Lake Mahinapua Scenic Reserve, near Hokitika, on the Wilderness Trail.
FREE-WHEELING — NEW FAMILY FRIENDLY TRAILS
Load up the bikes and head west for a free-wheeling family adventure on the West Coast’s growing cycle trail network. It’s all free plus you choose where you start, finish and level to suit your riders. For a family-friendly excursion, explore the new Kawatiri Coastal Trail — an easy 19.5 km ride from Westport to Tauranga Bay, part of a scenic 55 km easy (grade 2) ride that will soon connect Westport and historic Charleston. Suspension bridges, boardwalks and a seal colony en route should help keep the kids pedaling. For older families the multi-day West Coast Wilderness Trail between Greymouth and Ross (grade 2 and 3) offers several longer, slightly more challenging options.
Optional extras:
- Take a trip up to the Denniston Incline
- Go off-road and back in time with Outwest Tours
- Eat at family-friendly Donaldo’s Beach Cafe
Ōkārito Lagoon, South Westland
Historic Ōkārito boat shed on Ōkārito Lagoon and view of Mt Adams.
KAYAKING — WATER THRILLS AND SKILLS
Launch out on a family kayaking expedition to learn some cool new water skills on the usually calm waters of beautiful Ōkārito Lagoon. The shallow, sheltered coastal wetland forest, with a spectacular alpine backdrop, is great for novice kayakers. Okarito Kayaks run guided tours and kayak freedom hire. The double and single kayaks are super stable, and owner/guides Baz and Gemma will carefully outfit and prepare your family with all the necessaries for a safe outdoors adventure. There’s an overnight (BYO camping equipment) option for a wilderness sleepover where you may even hear kiwi calling at night.
Optional extras:
- Ōkārito Trig Walk — an easy 4.2km / 1.5 hours return with fabulous mountain to sea views
- Great coffee and counter food at Ōkārito Kitchen
- Close up encounters with rare Ōkārito rowi kiwi in West Coast Wildlife Centre at Franz Josef
- Glacier Country Walks
Underworld Adventures, Charleston
Explore the incredible underground caverns underneath Charleston with Underworld Adventures.
CAVING — GOING UNDERGROUND
For a thrilling day out, go underground into the fascinating Ananui caves, near Charleston (halfway between Punakaiki and Westport). Suitable for eight years and up and adventurous big kids, the guided journey starts with a full fit-out — wetsuit, life jacket, headlamp, tubes for flotation — and safety briefing at Underworld Adventures HQ. Then, it’s all aboard on the little Rainforest Train for a scenic ride along the Nile River before an 180-step climb up to the cave opening and into complete darkness. As you make your way down through this vast unmodified network of caves, underground streams and waterfalls, you’ll see breathtaking formations (stalactites, stalagmites and more), and experience true darkness before floating out via twinkling glowworm caverns and a gentle whitewater tube back to your train.
Optional extras:
- Lunch at the Underworld Adventures HQ cafe
- Explore Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & Paparoa National Park
- A multitude of shorter or longer walks into Paparoa National Park
- Other fun activities at Punakaiki and Punakaiki accommodation
Ross Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
Absolute beach front camp sites and accommodation at Ross Beach.
GET LUCKY ON A GOLDEN DAY OUT
Blink and you could miss the historic little gold mining town of Ross (south of Hokitika on SH6) but stop off for a morning or afternoon, hire some gold pans and you might be in luck like the miner who found New Zealand’s biggest-ever gold nugget right here in 1909. While the miners have mostly gone now, you can learn about what it was like back in their day at the old miner’s cottage and little museum where you hire the gold pans— they’ll tell you where to go. Discover relics on the trails through the Ross Historic Goldfields area, and stay over in a variety of accommodation options at the Ross Beach Top 10.
Optional extras:
- Cycle the Wilderness Trail from Ross to Hokitika
- Walk the Ross Historic Goldfields
- Get a birds' eye perspective from West Coast Treetop Walk & Zipline
Operators
$18 to $108
West Coast Treetop Walk & Tower Zipline
An exhilarating tree top adventure among temperate rainforest giants.
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38
West Coast Wildlife Centre - Franz Josef
Lonely Planet judged the West Coast Wildlife Centre in Franz Josef as one of the 12 must see things to visit in New Zealand. This is the largest kiwi hatching facility in the South Island and must see" all weather attraction. See live Tuatara & Kiwi.
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$60 - $130
Okarito Kayaks
Stunning rental and fully guided kayak trips on the remote and tranquil Okarito Lagoon, with incredible views of the Southern Alps and Westland Tai Poutini National Park. Family friendly and suitable for all abilities.
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Kawatiri Coastal Trail
The Kawatiri Coastal Trail is due for completion late 2023. Cyclists and walkers can look forward to a 50 km, Grade 2 family friendly heritage trail which will connect the Buller District towns of Westport and Charleston.
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120
West Coast Surf
Mark loves to teach Surfing! He has been dedicated to teaching surfing for the past 25 years, Mark is a previous NZ Team Coach and National Champ and a level 2 certified coach and contest judge. Experience beautiful Tauranga Bay with NZ's top coach.
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Free
West Coast Wilderness Trail
The West Coast Wilderness Trail showcases some of the most outstanding scenery on the South Island’s West Coast with a diversity of landscapes second to none. Grab your bike and explore this Grade 2 Easy trail.
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$200
Outwest Tours
Outwest Tours offers a wild West Coast experience, taking you off the beaten track on journeys into the wild heart of the land. Enjoy spectacular landscapes and travel historic mining trails, as you relax in their fully air-conditioned vehicles.
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$95
Okarito Nature Tour
Heritage tour exploring the highlights of Okarito village. Wharf shed history, then a guided walk up Trig Track hearing NZ birds. Views on the beach of NZ's highest mountains (Aoraki Mt Cook & Tasman) as well as FJ Glacier & Okarito Lagoon & village.
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$75
Okarito Kiwi Tours
Okarito Kiwi Tours is the only tourism venture in the South Island that guides you, in low numbers, deep into kiwi habitat. 95% sighting success.
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$185
Underworld Adventures
Underworld Rafting: Is a “Cave Rafting Adventure” in the Paparoa National Park. Located in Charleston.
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1799
Paparoa Guided Walks
An all inclusive 3 night, 4 day guided hiking adventure tour along the Paparoa Track, New Zealand's newest Great Walk.
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110
Bazils Hostel & Surf School
Bazils hostel & Surf school, in Westport on the stunning West Coast of the South Island. With accommodation to suit all needs. Come do some great West Coast walks, Surfing is great all year, underworld rafting, jet boats & much more. Free WIFI.
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$549
Explore West Coast
Explore West Coast offers scenic tours of the West Coast from Karamea to the Glaciers. Exploring iconic scenic "Must Do's" along with providing chartered private experiences. Learn the history of the West Coast with our local knowledgeable guides.
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Hokitika Scenic Tours
Hokitika Scenic Tours offer specialised informative, sightseeing day and multi day tours and transport to any destination you wish to visit on the West Coast.
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