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Travel the length of the West Coast from Queenstown all the way through to Nelson. The West Coast is the longest region in the country, so no two places look the same.
Category
Self-drive
Duration
4 Nights 5 days
Distance
525 mi/845 km
Best time
Anytime
Jackson's Bay, Haast
Fox Glacier
Hokitika
Greymouth
Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki
Westport Clock Tower - Credit Charles Bruning
Day 1: Queenstown to Haast
2 hours 57 mins, 209 km
Drive from Queenstown to Haast via State Highway 6. This is a great scenic drive and enjoy the UNESCO World Heritage Area. Haast is West Coast Whitebait country, we recommend staying here for the night!
From Haast to Jackson Bay there are empty shingle beaches, dunes, lakes and wetlands, all with the soaring backdrop of the Southern Alps.
Tramping, hunting and if you want speed, jet boating tours with Waiatoto River Safari or Haast River Safari on the local rivers are available. There is an abundance of wildlife and tours to view fur seals, Hectors Dolphins and Fiordland Crested Penguins.
Haast River Safari
We offer visitors a rare opportunity to experience the untouched natural beauty of Te Wāhipounamu - World Heritage Area, while traveling in one of ou…
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Haast
Jackson Bay
Jackson Bay is a working fishing port and a popular fishing spot in summer, it's a great place to catch crayfish and just meander.
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Haast
Santana Knitwear, Honey & Gifts
Situated in Haast Township this is the place to visit for a huge range of possum merino products.
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Haast
Haast Heritage & History
Learn about the gold, timber, coal, Maori and aviation history of the West Coast at the many heritage sites on the West Coast.
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Haast
Haast Walks
The best way to experience the West Coasts untamed natural wilderness is to simply get out there among it.
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Greenstone Helicopters
South Westland's wild and undisturbed landscape is deemed to have natural and cultural features of such world significance, it is now protected …
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Haast
Ship Creek walk and Monro Beach
Ship Creek Walk is one of the best examples of swamp forest that you will come across and well worth stopping for on your journey along the West Coas…
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Haast
The Salmon Farm Cafe
Salmon Farm licensed café specializing in fresh and smoked salmon products.
Learn moreDay 2: Haast to Glacier Country
1 hour 58 mins, 144 km
Fox Glacier village has a relaxed, quaint village feel. Home to the Fox Glacier, it offers a range of adventure activities as well as access to some of the West Coast's most scenic spots.
The ‘must do’ walk is Lake Matheson. This is the most photographed lake in New Zealand with good reason. Carry on down the road to Gillespies Beach.
Bruce Bay - or Mahitahi - is a small coastal settlement with stunning sea vistas and a wonderfully wild windswept beach, 40km south of Fox Glacier and 80 km from Haast.
Lake Matheson
The unsurpassed views and mountain reflections from the forested shores of Lake Matheson make this easy walk one of the most popular on the West Coas…
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Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers & Glacier Country
West Coast Cycling - Glacier Country
Walk or cycle through bush from Franz Josef township to the Franz Josef Glacier car park.
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HeliServices.NZ Fox Glacier
Scenic helicopter flights and snow landings above Fox and Franz Josef glaciers.
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Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers & Glacier Country
HeliServices.NZ Franz Josef
Scenic helicopter flights and snow landings above Fox and Franz Josef glaciers.
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Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers & Glacier Country
Gillespies Beach
Gillespies Beach, out of Fox Glacier, offers a scenic drive, lovely views of the Southern Alps, an historic cemetery and many coastal walks.
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Air Safaris Franz Josef
Our Grand Traverse scenic flight from Franz Josef provides the best way to experience this glacial environment in its entirety.
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Moraine Walk
Moraines are the debris of rocks and stones left when a glacier retreats. Explore old moraine surfaces on this easy, short walk, south of Fox Glacier…
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Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers & Glacier Country
The Helicopter Line Franz Josef Glacier
The Helicopter Line can offer you spectacular close-up views on a scenic flight to explore and discover the dramatic expanse of the Franz Josef and F…
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Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers & Glacier Country
Bruce Bay
Bruce Bay - or Mahitahi - is a small coastal settlement with stunning sea vistas and a wonderfully wild windswept beach, 40km south of Fox Glacier an…
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Lake Matheson
The unsurpassed views and mountain reflections from the forested shores of Lake Matheson make this easy walk one of the most popular on the West Coas…
Learn moreDay 3: Glacier Country to Hokitika
1 hour 44 mins, 134 km
Ōkārito and Whataroa are a 'must-explore' for nature and wildlife lovers. Okarito is definitely worth a stop – NZ’s largest unmodified wetland –and a bird watchers paradise! Hire a kayak or grab a boat tour.
Down the road you will come to Ross, famous for being the spot where New Zealand’s largest ever gold nugget was unearthed - the “Roddy Nugget”, weighing a massive 3.1kg.
Hire a gold pan to try your hand at the Ross Goldfields Information Centre. Then take a drive to West Coast Treetop Walk & Cafe. An exhilarating tree top adventure among temperate rainforest giants waits for you.
Hokitika was once a Goldfields Capital and Port. Visit the Museum, view artisans working gold, pounamu, precious stones, wood, metals and glass.
Hokitika
The Gorge Gallery
We welcome the public to come and visit us down Zuckermans Road when our Woodwork Gallery Open flag is out on the road to the Hokitika Gorge.
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Lake Mahinapua Campsite
A popular overnight and day stop. Enjoy water sports in the lake.
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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…
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Lake Kaniere
Lake Kaniere is one of the most beautiful lakes in New Zealand and offers opportunity for a number of water sports. There are also several picnic pla…
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Hokitika
West Coast Cycle and Tours
For bike hire, trail info, tour planning, shuttles and luggage transfers. Located in Hokitika.
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Hokitika Museum
The Hokitika Museum is a regional museum located in the heart of Westland and housed in the historic Carnegie Building. The Museum is currently close…
Learn moreDay 4: Hokitika to Greymouth
31 mins, 38.9 km
Greymouth and the surrounding Grey Valley offer adventure activities, heritage attractions and guided nature tours.
The Greymouth and Grey Valley area takes in Blackball, Nelson Creek, Stillwater and Greymouth.
Visit Shantytown - a replica of an 1880's gold town.
Get muddy on a quad bike tour at On Yer bike, enjoy one of the multitude of local walking tracks.
Whether you decide to stay in Greymouth or Hokitika there is a great range of accommodation and dining available with friendly locals to point you in the right direction.
Blackball Co-operative shuttle and relocation service
Blackball Co-operative shuttle and relocation service will assist you hike or cycle the Paparoa Track. Other trips on demand; car/campervan relocatio…
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Grey District
Kereru Crafts
Put together by owner/operator Colin Luff, this gallery features some of the West Coast's best local artists.
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Grey District
West Coast Encounters
John Kennedy, head guide of West Coast Encounters, has worked in the tourism and hospitality industry for over 30 years with an extensive history in …
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Grey District
Adventure South NZ
Adventure South NZ operates guided cycling and hiking tours on the West Coast. Our multi-day tours are fully supported and include all accommodation,…
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Grey District
Shades of Jade
Here at Shades of Jade we are proud to showcase Pounamu that is 100% genuine West Coast Pounamu.
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Explore West Coast
Explore West Coast offers visitors to the region guided and self drive tours, discounted local activities and accommodation options.
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Grey District
Left Bank Art Gallery
The gallery is housed in the former Bank of New Zealand. The main gallery and vault spaces display regular exhibits of contemporary New Zealand paint…
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Grey District
Skeleton Crew Carving Studio
Join us along the beautiful West Coast highway for your chance to make your own bonecarving.
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Grey District
Stewart Nimmo Gallery
Nimmo Gallery is in the heart of Greymouth. Discover Stewart Nimmo’s unique West Coast imagery.
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Grey District
Coastwide Helicopters
Coastwide Helicopters is part of the commercial division of the GCH Aviation Group with its operational base at Greymouth airport.
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Grey District
The Regent Theatre Greymouth
The Regent Theatre is your entertainment centre of the West Coast!
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Garth Wilson Jade
If you want a special piece of authentic Māori pounamu (jade, greenstone) then come and visit Garth in his studio/gallery.
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Grey District
Blackball Salami Company Limited
Our salami is made from a variation of beef, pork and venison.
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On Yer Bike!
Action packed off road adventures for all ages through 250 acres of West Coast rainforest and farm.
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Grey District
Day 5: Greymouth to Westport
1 hour 28 mins, 101 km
The Great Coast Road is the most spectacular way to see the untamed, natural, wilderness of the West Coast. Head to Punakaiki, world famous for its pancake rocks, blowholes.
Head to Charleston, experience underground rafting and caving with Underworld Adventures. Continue to Westport, known for its rich coal mining history in addition to its abundant unique natural attractions.
Oparara limestone arches are in Karamea and Kahurangi National Park, see the seal colony at Cape Foulwind, or the beauty of Carters Beach.
You could even try and stay on a surf board with an amazing teacher at Bazil’s Surf School or take a bike ride on the Heaphy Track - offering the only multi-day cycle course through a national park in New Zealand.
Westport, Karamea & Buller District
Ultimate Descents New Zealand
Good spirited kiwis, giving the opportunity for travelers to explore our wild and scenic rivers.
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Westport, Karamea & Buller District
Habitat Sports and Cycles
Track Shuttle services, Bikes & Hire, Fishing & Hunting, Camping & Hiking, Food & Nutrition plus more!
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The Heaphy Track
One of New Zealand’s nine great walks, the Heaphy Track, finishes (or starts, depending on which way you’re heading) at Karamea.
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Oparara Arches
Tucked away in a corner of Kahurangi National Park, the Oparara has a magic all of its own, born of millions years of undisturbed isolation.
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Westport, Karamea & Buller District
Westport Mini Golf
Master playing through the Oparara Arch, accept the challenge of the Denniston Incline, cruise along Carters Beach, swing around the Wishing Well, st…
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Bazils Hostel & Surf School
Welcome to Bazil's Hostel & Surf School on the stunning West Coast, your gateway to hiking, kayaking, surfing, mountain biking and caving ad…
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Charming Creek Walkway
The Seddonville carpark to Mangatini Falls is approximately a 4 hour round walking trip. Charming Creek walkway mostly follows an historic bush tramw…
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Westport, Karamea & Buller District
Karamea
Karamea is a secluded haven, snuggled into the warm northwest corner of the South Island. Long empty beaches, river estuaries, incredible granite and…
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Westport, Karamea & Buller District
Kohaihai / Karamea Walks
Walks in the Karamea and Kohaihai area in northern West Coast New Zealand.
Learn moreDay 5: Westport to Nelson
2 hours 50 mins, 217 km
Before heading to Nelson swing by the Buller Gorge Swing-bridge which is New Zealand’s longest swing bridge, and stands a clear 17 metres above the Buller River and spans 110m.
For an adrenaline rush take a spin on the Buller Canyon Jet.
From there your travels take you toward the Nelson/Marlborough region.
Buller Swing Bridge
Feel the rush of the Cometline ride, experience the thrill of a jet boat, walk the heights of New Zealand's longest swingbridge, pan for gold, o…
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Westport, Karamea & Buller District
$125 for adults.
$75 for children 5 to 14 years old.
Buller Canyon Jet
Join us for an exclusive award-winning jet boat adventure in the stunning Buller Canyon.
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Westport, Karamea & Buller District
Buller Taxis
Buller Taxis, based in Westport, offers a professional and reliable taxi service in Westport and surrounding areas.
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