Westport, Karamea & Buller District
DISCOVER SENSATIONAL NATURAL ATTRACTIONS
Long empty beaches, river estuaries, incredible granite and limestone formations. Better known for its legendary, rich coal mining history, the northern West Coast region of Buller surprises with some of New Zealand’s most sensational lesser-known natural attractions.
Ōpārara Arch, Karamea
A naturally spectacular sculpture, the Ōpārara Arch, is one of a series of limestone formations shaped by nature over millions of years.
Getting to Buller District
Westport Airport is served by direct flights to and from Wellington with Sound Air.
Plan your visit using the Westport website and the 100% Pure New Zealand's travel and distance calculator.
Ask the experts at one of the Buller region's two isites.
Kawatiri Westport isite: 123 Palmerston Street, Westport 7825 (next to the Clocktower Building, inside the Museum of Kawatiri).
Open: Mon to Fri, 9am-4.30pm; Sat, Sun & public holidays, 10am-4pm
Contact: +64 (0)3 789 6658 / info@westportinfo.co.nz
Karamea Information and Resource Centre: 106 Bridge Street, Karamea
Open: Hours may vary according to season. Summer, Mon to Sat, 9am-4.30pm; Sun, 9.30am-1pm; Otherwise, Mon to Fri, 9am-4.30pm; Sat, 9.30am-1pm
Contact: +64 (0)3 782 6652 / info@karameainfo.co.nz
Tauranga Bay
Windswept Cape Foulwind — a promontory south of Westport — is home to New Zealand’s largest colony of kekeno NZ fur seals.
WESTPORT & BULLER DISTRICT
Buller District extends from Punakaiki in the south northwards along the coast to Kahurangi National Park at the West Coast’s northern tip. It includes the smaller towns of Karamea and Reefton, and Victoria Forest Park to the west.
Oldest town on the West Coast and the main business centre for the Buller District, Westport is located at the mouth of the mighty Buller River. Most famous as a coal mining centre, it’s also the gateway to incredible natural wonders and some of New Zealand’s most beautiful off-the-beaten track landscapes.
Kawatiri Trail
The family-friendly Kawatiri Trail travels south from Westport along a spectacular and historic coastal route.
WESTPORT ATTRACTIONS
On your way to Westport, stop at Charleston to explore the enormous cave system and see one of the world's best glow worm displays with Underworld Adventures.
With a warm, mild climate and three great beaches within a few minutes of town, Westport is a beach holiday destination. Family-friendly Carters Beach — an endless sandy expanse — is a popular spot for camping, swimming, picnics, sunsets and bonfires. There are two surf schools in town.
Cape Foulwind Walkway, south of Carters Beach, is an easy, coastal walk along a breezy promontory to the country’s largest mainland kekeno fur seal colony. It’s highly entertaining around breeding season (November to February) when the young seal pups are finding their flippers.
The family-friendly Kawatiri Trail is a new walking and cycling track that follows the coast south from Westport. When fully completed (due 2024), it will travel all the way (55 km) to Charleston. Sections to Carter’s Beach, Cape Foulwind and Tauranga Bay — about half the full ride — are already open.
Learn about Westport’s fascinating coal mining and Māori history at the Kawatiri Experience Centre/Pounamu Pathway in town or, for amazing views, head out to the wild, remote Denniston Plateau — site of the infamous Denniston Incline and tales of mining hardships. Or take a tour of an operating mine at Stockton.
Foodies should note that the Westport Whitebait Festival is held each year in October.
Ōpārara Arches
Underground streams flowing through limestone have sculpted the wonders of the Ōpārara Arches near Karamea in Kahurangi National Park.
KARAMEA & KAHURANGI NATIONAL PARK
Karamea, sitting pretty in the warm northwestern corner of the South Island, is a secluded, off-the-beaten-track outdoor haven — gateway to Kahurangi National Park, the Heaphy Track and the Ōpārara Arches.
This region is a paradise for walking and hiking, birding, mountain biking, caving, fishing and hunting, kayaking and rafting.
There are many short walks near Karamea including the lovely Nīkau Walk and the coastal highlights of Scotts Beach Walk, at the western end of the multi-day Heaphy Track — one of New Zealand’s 10 Great Walks — which starts or finishes at Kohaihai, 16 km north of Karamea.
The impressive Ōpārara Arches are one of nature’s great artistic works — natural archways, sculpted by time and water, well worth an easy forest walk. Or take an unforgettable guided tour into the Honeycomb Hill Caves to experience a magical ancient underground world.
Buller Gorge swing bridge
Crossing the emerald green waters of the Buller Gorge on New Zealand’s longest swing bridge.
BULLER GORGE & REEFTON
Seddonville — one of many small townships north of Westport — marks the end of the Old Ghost Road. This 85 km multi-day hike or mountain bike ride follows a long forgotten gold miners trail, traversing native forest, alpine tops and seven ghost towns en route to the ghost town of Lyell in the Buller Gorge.
An outstanding day walk with amazing scenery, the Charming Creek Walkway starts from Seddonville. Based on an old bush tramway, the trail is packed with historical, botanical and geological highlights.
For a scenic road trip highlight, the one-hour drive between Westport and Reefton traverses the Buller Gorge, a wild and picturesque river valley formed by the mighty Buller River.
The Buller Gorge Marathon and half marathon, held in February annually, is one of the most scenic marathon routes in New Zealand.
SEE, DO & STAY
$10 to $115
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.
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Wild Rivers Rafting Ltd
Rated "Top Choice" by lonely planet, 2012 edition, Wild Rivers Rafting rafts the renown Earthquake Section of the Buller Gorge.
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Hector Pottery
Hector Pottery Studio is in northern Buller, Kawatiri, on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.
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The Sawmill Restaurant
The Sawmill Restaurant is fully licensed 40 seat restaurant specialising in wholesome West Coast New Zealand cuisine. Surrounded by untouched lush native bush, rugged mountains, and beautiful rivers, be prepare to be bewitched, charmed, and enchanted by one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets – Buller and the Northern West Coast.
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