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.






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 our custom designed fully enclosed jet boats.
Learn moreJackson 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.
Learn moreSantana Knitwear, Honey & Gifts
Situated in Haast Township this is the place to visit for a huge range of possum merino products.
Learn moreHaast Walks
The best way to experience the West Coasts untamed natural wilderness is to simply get out there among it.
Learn moreGreenstone Helicopters
South Westland's wild and undisturbed landscape is deemed to have natural and cultural features of such world significance, it is now protected in the 2.6 million hectare, South Westland World Heritage Area.
Learn moreShip 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 Coast.
Learn moreThe 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 Coast.
Learn moreWest Coast Cycling - Glacier Country
Walk or cycle through bush from Franz Josef township to the Franz Josef Glacier car park.
Learn moreHeliServices.NZ Franz Josef
Scenic helicopter flights and snow landings above Fox and Franz Josef glaciers.
Learn moreGillespies Beach
Gillespies Beach, out of Fox Glacier, offers a scenic drive, lovely views of the Southern Alps, an historic cemetery and many coastal walks.
Learn moreAir Safaris Franz Josef
Our Grand Traverse scenic flight from Franz Josef provides the best way to experience this glacial environment in its entirety.
Learn moreMoraine 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 township.
Learn moreThe 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 Fox Glaciers and snowfields.
Learn moreBruce 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 and 80 km from Haast.
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.

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.
Learn moreLake Mahinapua Campsite
A popular overnight and day stop. Enjoy water sports in the lake.
Learn moreWest 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.
Learn moreLake 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 places, a camping area, and numerous short walks.
Learn moreWest Coast Cycle and Tours
For bike hire, trail info, tour planning, shuttles and luggage transfers. Located in Hokitika.
Learn moreHokitika Museum
The Hokitika Museum is a regional museum located in the heart of Te Tai Poutini - West Coast. What began in 1869, in the new Town Hall, as the “Museum Room” grew into the West Coast’s largest museum and archive.
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 relocation service Blackball to Punakaiki.
Learn moreKereru Crafts
Put together by owner/operator Colin Luff, this gallery features some of the West Coast's best local artists.
Learn moreWest 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 tour guiding.
Learn moreAdventure 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, transport, meals, first class guides and more.
Learn moreShades of Jade
Here at Shades of Jade we are proud to showcase Pounamu that is 100% genuine West Coast Pounamu.
Learn moreLeft 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 paintings, prints, photography, sculpture and crafts, with an emphasis on local content.
Learn moreSkeleton Crew Carving Studio
Join us along the beautiful West Coast highway for your chance to make your own bonecarving.
Learn moreStewart Nimmo Gallery
Nimmo Gallery is in the heart of Greymouth. Discover Stewart Nimmo’s unique West Coast imagery.
Learn moreCoastwide Helicopters
Coastwide Helicopters is part of the commercial division of the GCH Aviation Group with its operational base at Greymouth airport.
Learn moreThe Regent Theatre Greymouth
The Regent Theatre is your entertainment centre of the West Coast!
Learn moreGarth Wilson Jade
If you want a special piece of authentic Māori pounamu (jade, greenstone) then come and visit Garth in his studio/gallery.
Learn moreBlackball Salami Company Limited
Our salami is made from a variation of beef, pork and venison.
Learn moreDay 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.

Ultimate Descents New Zealand
Good spirited kiwis, giving the opportunity for travelers to explore our wild and scenic rivers.
Learn moreHabitat Sports and Cycles
Track Shuttle services, Bikes & Hire, Fishing & Hunting, Camping & Hiking, Food & Nutrition plus more!
Learn moreThe 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.
Learn moreOparara 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.
Learn moreWestport Mini Golf
Master playing through the Oparara Arch, accept the challenge of the Denniston Incline, cruise along Carters Beach, swing around the Wishing Well, straighten up heading down the Fairdown to Granity, plus much more fun.
Learn moreCharming Creek Walkway
The Seddonville carpark to Mangatini Falls is approximately a 4 hour round walking trip. Charming Creek walkway mostly follows an historic bush tramway through the lower Ngakawau Gorge and the Charming Creek valley to the abandoned Charming Creek Coal Mine, passing historic sawmilling and mining remains.
Learn moreKaramea
Karamea is a secluded haven, snuggled into the warm northwest corner of the South Island. Long empty beaches, river estuaries, incredible granite and limestone formations.
Learn moreKohaihai / 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, or simply relax and take in the views of Buller Gorge.
Learn moreBuller Canyon Jet
Join us for an exclusive award-winning jet boat adventure in the stunning Buller Canyon.
Learn moreBuller Taxis
Buller Taxis, based in Westport, offers a professional and reliable taxi service in Westport and surrounding areas.
Learn more