Glacier Country - 2087
Touring Routes

Must-do Outdoor Adventures

Glacier Country

Get off the beaten track and into the outdoors on this trip from north to south, starting in subtropical Karamea and ending in the untouched beauty of a UNESCO World Heritage Area.

Category
Themes
Duration
4 Days +
Distance
119km +
Best time
Summer/Autumn

Westport to Ōpārara Arches

2 hrs 15 min, 119 km

Prehistoric caves, ancient trails, lush forest and white-sand beaches — the northernmost reaches of the West Coast are a mecca for outdoor adventurers.

Start by exploring the Ōpārara Basin with its grand limestone arches, deep underground caves, whisky coloured rivers, lakes and dense rainforest.

One of New Zealand’s most popular Great Walks, the Heaphy Track, starts here. This 4–6 day hike passes through the unique wilderness of the Kahurangi National Park, where you might spot rare wildlife only found in this part of the country. Mountain bikes are welcome on the trail in winter.

For experienced mountain bikers, The Old Ghost Road is a purpose built, 85-km backcountry trail which traverses through spectacular forest, alongside a roaring river and into misty alpine landscapes. Cosy huts are well equipped for overnight stays.

For shorter rides, the Denniston Plateau trails offer magnificent coastal views and an insight into the lives of the hardy coal mining community that lived perched up on this rocky shelf, sending coal down the Denniston Incline.

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Local Attractions

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Karamea
Heaphy

Children - Free. Adults $14 to $32

The Heaphy Track

One of New Zealand’s 10 great walks, the Heaphy Track, finishes (or starts, depending on which way you’re heading) at Karamea.

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Karamea
The Old Ghost Road

The Old Ghost Road

The 85km-long Old Ghost Road traverses majestic native forest, open tussock tops, river flats and forgotten valleys, providing days of adventure and spectacular huts for mountain bikers and trampers.

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Westport
Denniston-Dog-Westport,-West-Coast-6-(credit-Clint-Trahan)

Denniston Dog Café Restaurant & Bar

The Denniston Dog is a Restaurant, Cafe and Bar situated in the bustling small town of Westport.

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Westport to Reefton & Springs Junction

1 hr, 79 km

Historic gold mining and timber milling tracks around Reefton have been repurposed for mountain biking with options for all abilities.

After a spin on Reefton’s tracks, what better way to refresh than with a premium gin & tonic from the popular Reefton Distilling Co, where knowledgeable guides offer tours and tastings.

If you're there in summer (or the adventurous type), nothing is more refreshing than getting out on the water, Inland Adventures offer a range of white-water rafting adventures.

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Local Attractions

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Reefton
Rafting the Grey River/Māwheranui near Reefton.

1300

Inland Adventures - Wilderness River Rafting

There is no better way to spend a day than out on a river. Whether you want entertaining Grade 3 rapids with stunning scenery or to give your kids their first taste of whitewater we have you covered.

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Reefton
John and Helen Dawsons Hotel.JPG

Dawson's Hotel at Reefton

Explore the wonders of Reefton’s surrounds while you stay at Dawson's, the locals’ preferred accommodation.

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Reefton
Reefton Mountain Biking

West Coast Mountain Biking - Reefton Gold

The old gold miners, timber millers and horse packers of the West Coast knew how to build a track and make it last. Nowadays, many of these historic tracks can still be ridden, but with a more sophisticated ride - a mountain bike.

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Westport to Punakaiki

1 hr 20 min, 89 km

Home to the West Coast’s most visited natural attraction — the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes — Paparoa National Park packs a punch with its diversity of natural wonders. From bizarrely stacked limestone rocks towering in the Tasman Sea, to alpine ridges home to rare wildlife.

New Zealand’s latest Great Walk, the Paparoa Track, traverses the park’s terrains — across mountain ridges, through a dramatic limestone gorge to reach lush coastal forests. The 55-km hiking and biking trail starts near Blackball and ends at Punakaiki (shuttles to either trailhead can be booked). There are many other short walks to experience a taste of the park's special wilderness.

In summer, cool down with a kayak or paddle board on the Pororari River, or escape the heat of the midday sun in the cool depths of ancient caves, on an underground rafting adventure with Underworld Adventures in nearby Charleston.

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Local Attractions

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Punakaiki
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Pancake Rocks Cafe

Famous Pancakes & Pizzas
Try our pancake stack available all day, and homemade stoneoven pizzas served from 11am.

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Punakaiki
Pancake Rocks and Blowholes - 0920

Free

Pancake Rocks and Blowholes

The pancake rocks in Punakaiki are the most visited natural attraction on the West Coast with good reason, they really do look like pancakes!

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Punakaiki
Paparoa Track

Paparoa Track and Pike29 Memorial Track

The Paparoa Track is New Zealand’s 10th Great Walk. It travels through the spectacular limestone landscapes and luxuriant forests of Paparoa National Park, custom-built for both mountain biking and hiking.

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Greymouth to Lake Brunner

35 min, 40 km

Detour for the West Coast’s largest lake, Lake Brunner. The forest-lined lake makes a perfect summer spot for swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing or fishing. When you’re not on the water, explore the many walking trails in the area. There’s short lakeside trails or hilly day hikes, featuring pristine forests, a glow worm dell and an impressive waterfall.

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Local Attractions

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Moana
Lake Brunner Accommodation & Golf Course

From $109

Lake Brunner Long House

Lake Brunner Accommodation offers modern studio suites.

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Moana
Lake Brunner Mt Te Kinga.jpg

Lake Brunner walks

Walks in the Lake Brunner area on the West Coast.

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Kumara
Lake Brunner Eco Lodge

$890

Lake Brunner Eco Lodge

Sustainable retreat nestled by Lake Brunner. Luxury accommodation amidst lush native bush. Ideal for nature lovers seeking tranquility. Activities include birdwatching, hiking, fishing and kayaking. Experience New Zealand's wilderness in comfort.

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Punakaiki to Hokitika

1hr 10 min, 84 km

If you need a break from biking and hiking, but still want to explore the rainforest, then go offroading with On Yer Bike near Greymouth. Self-drive a quad bike or off-road buggy, or board the 15-seater Hägglund with someone else in charge. End your muddy adventures with a tasting, tour and dinner at the famous Monteith’s Brewery in Greymouth.

Stop at Barrytown, a small seaside settlement with an arty community. At Barrytown Knifemaking, you can spend the day forging your own steel blade. Before you leave, wander the shoreline and look out for pounamu pebbles washed down the river by the West Coast rains.

The cool little beachside town of Hokitika is one of the West Coast’s highlights, and the gateway to many outdoor adventures. The short but stunning walk to the surreal blue hues of the Hokitika Gorge takes you through a lush forest in the granite gorge.

Join the accessible West Coast Wilderness Trail here which winds through spectacular landscapes, with charming gold rush era towns dotted along the trail. You can ride for a few hours or a few days, and there are multiple shuttle operators who can ferry your luggage so you don't have to.

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Local Attractions

 
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Grey District
Monteiths-Brewery-Tour.JPG

Monteith's Brewery Experience

Here you'll get an introduction into the heritage and rich stories of the origins of Monteith's, starting in 1868 right here on the West Coast.

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Punakaiki
Barrytown knifemaking

Barrytown Knifemaking

Make your own unique handforged knife!

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Hokitika to Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers

1 hr, 40 min to Franz Josef, 134 km to Franz Josef / 158 km to Fox

Situated between Hokitika and Franz Josef, Ōkārito is one of the West Coast’s best kept natural secrets. The lagoon is home to the perfect location for sheltered kayaking, and there is plenty to see as you paddle along. Surrounded by native rainforest and towering snow-capped mountains, the wetland attracts an abundance of rare bird life. For panoramic views of the Southern Alps, take the gentle uphill walk to the Okarito Trig.

After Ōkārito, head south to the picturesque Lake Mapourika, where you can also enjoy kayaking, fishing, and birdwatching. Make the most of your visit by taking guided kayak and boat tours with Franz Josef Wilderness Tours.

The Franz Josef and Fox glaciers are nestled within the awe-inspiring Westland Tai Poutini National Park, part of a designated UNESCO World Heritage Area due to its abundance of unique plants and wildlife.

The glaciers must be seen up close to be believed — explore huge ridges and caves of clear blue ice on a heli-hike or ice-climb, or take a scenic flight to experience the vastness of the icescapes.

On the ground, the surrounding national park offers exceptional walking and hiking, including the 6-hour Roberts Point Track which ends in excellent views of the glacier, or the short Lake Matheson walk with its mirror-like reflections of the Southern Alps.

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Local Attractions

Fox Glacier / Franz Josef Glacier to Haast

1 hr 50 min, 142 km

The journey south to Haast counts as one of the country’s most epic drives, as you pass through two of four national parks that make up Te Wāhipounamu — South West New Zealand UNESCO World Heritage Area.

Don’t miss the coastal walks at Ship Creek and the chance to see the resident pod of rare Hector’s dolphins. Haast is a great place to stay for the night and explore the untouched wilderness on foot, by jet boat or scenic flight.

For intrepid explorers, the Copland Track (just south of Fox Glacier) is a stunning multi-day walk through native forest and ancient alpine landscapes alongside the rushing Copland River. Natural hot pools soothe weary muscles at Welcome Flat Hut.

The steep hike up to Brewster Hut on the Haast Pass Highway rewards trampers with stunning views of Mount Aspiring National Park. En route to Wānaka, the Haast Highway offers a variety of short walks and roadside campsites in epic wilderness locations.

Beyond Haast, at the southern tip of the West Coast region, Jackson Bay is a great place for fish and chips at the famous Craypot. Work off a big lunch on the Smoothwater Bay Track.

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Local Attractions

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Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers & Glacier Country
Franz Josef Heli

HeliServices.NZ Franz Josef

Scenic helicopter flights and snow landings above Fox and Franz Josef glaciers.

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