West Coast & The Glaciers

The West Coast New Zealand is located on the west coast of the South Island. Main attractions include Karamea, Reefton, Westport, Greymouth, Hokitika, Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier and Haast.

Bounded by the Southern Alps to the east and the Tasman Sea to the west, the West Coast of the South Island combines history and adventure with breathtaking scenery. This sparsely populated region has overwhelming mountains, glaciers, lakes, rivers, limestone formations, wildlife and coastline. There are numerous beach and forest walks.

At the mouth of the Grey River, Greymouth is the main centre of the West Coast. The town stands on an old Maori pa site, Greymouth is a coal, timber and gold rush town.

The Paparoa National Park, 30 minutes from Greymouth, is home to Punakaiki and the Pancake Rocks. The surrounding landscape is made up of gorges, limestone caves, blowholes, palm trees and spectacular coastal scenery.

Hokitika, south of Greymouth, is a tranquil town on the Tasman Sea, with views to the Southern Alps. It is the administrative centre for the surrounding sheep, cattle and dairy farms as will as many timber mills.

The West Coast region is home to many glaciers, the most famous, extraordinary and accessible being Fox and Franz Josef. There are many walking tracks around the glaciers, and scenic flights are a fantastic way to experience their greatness. Guided walks onto the ice are also an exciting way to explore.

The 10km long Fox Glacier is set in the rainforested slopes of the Southern Alps. Walks begin from here to Lake Matheson, famous for its reflections. Here also starts the drive to Gillespies Beach where you can view the sunset reflecting on the peaks. 25km north of the Fox Glacier, the Franz Josef Glacier is a steep, fast-flowing glacier. It is 12km long, and the walk to it's base takes about an hour from the carpark.

Haast is the location of the magnificent South Westland World Heritage Visitor Centre. The surrounding area is pristine rainforest and there also lagoons and long stretches of wilderness coast. Haast Pass is the lowest pass across the the Southern Alps. It is a magnificent scenic route surrounded by high snowy peaks.

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