Destinations: West Coast adventures
The rugged West Coast of the South Island comes into its own during the warm summer months, a utopia for adventure, and experiences like none other.
The Coast boasts 600 extraordinary kilometres of coastline, mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, glaciers, with endless opportunities to get active or just take it slow. Its small towns and friendly locals offer glimpses of the past, and views into the future with old and new heritage projects, interactive experiences, and creative shopping outlets.
Explore the rich and diverse history of gold and greenstone, and learn how it shaped the region. Enjoy good food, boutique brews, and West Coast hospitality. Experience scenic wonders such as glaciers, and Punakaiki’s coastal rock formations. At the end of the day sit on a beach and watch the sun slowly sink below the horizon.
Accommodation options range from hotels, and motels, to bed and breakfast choices, and luxurious lodges, the latter often nestled amidst nature’s wonderlands. Getting there is easy. Fill up the fuel tank, load up the family, and head out along State Highway 73. Allow three-and-a-half to four hours, with stops on the way.
Every region and most towns have places to go, off the beaten track. The South Island’s West Coast is no different, with a huge variation in activities and exciting historic places to visit, and wildlife to see.
Blackball: South of Greymouth, Blackball is a small town credited as being the birthplace of the New Zealand Labour Party. Gold and coal mining were its foundation industries. Visitors today can check out several places of historical significance such as an old mine site, and the Black-Roa railway line, or head into the bush to walk Croesus Track, an old miners pack trail.
Moana: Situated on the northern shore of Lake Brunner, beside its outflow into the Arnold River, Moana is a base for activities such as fishing, swimming, cycling, and scenic walks. It has its own camping ground, and a lodge for accommodation, plus a store to sort the essentials. Take a trip out there to its annual market day on 2 January, or dig out the clubs and play a round or two at the local golf course.
Jackson Bay: A fishing village with spectacular views of the Tasman Sea and the Southern Alps, Jackson Bay has several good walks in the area, ranging from a 15-minute track to Jackson Viewpoint to a two-day hike inland that returns along the coast. One of only two known areas in South Westland regularly used as a nursery area by the rare Hector’s dolphin females and their calves, it is also a designated a World Heritage Area.
Karamea: A secluded haven north of Westport, Karamea is accessed by a scenic winding road, opening on to beach vistas. The northernmost settlement on the West Coast, Karamea caters for trampers and cavers, birdwatchers and botanists, geologists, mountain bikers, hunters, fishermen, and the more adventurous kayakers and rafters, along with those seeking a family holiday away from it all.
Waiuta: Once the Coast’s third largest settlement, Waiuta is now home to an authentic ghost town, where you can spend a night or two. Near Reefton, no one lives there, and many buildings are in ruins, however due to a volunteer group, and the Department of Conservation, visitors can experience life from times long past.
What to do…
The West Coast is home to several small towns, all offering their own unique insight into the region.
Reefton has numerous adventure companies, antique shops, craft brewing and distilling companies. Westport, originally named Buller, is the oldest European settlement on the West Coast. Home to rafting, jetboating, and caving activities, its history includes a wealth of gold digging, coal mining, and tourism.
If you’re a racing fan, or just enjoy a good time, head along to the Westport Trotting Club’s Boxing Day and December 28 meetings. On Patterson Street in Westport, the all-weather track ensures two bumper days of action.
A few days later, on 11 January, head to Kumara Racing Club for its iconic Gold Nuggets race day. One of the most popular race meetings in New Zealand, the Kumara Gold Nuggets brings many West Coasters home, along with racing enthusiasts galore, to meet with family and friends. The conviviality and social atmosphere carries on late into the night.
Greymouth is named for Sir George Grey, former governor of New Zealand. Much of its mining and pounamu-hunting history is well chronicled in the town’s museum so pop on in and read about it, or visit the Pounamu Pathway centre.
Hokitika is known as one of New Zealand’s hidden gems. Founded as a gold mining town in the gold-rush days, Hokitika is famous for its pounamu (greenstone), whitebait, its gold and coal mining history, and incredible wild scenery. Check out the National Kiwi Centre, Lake Kaniere, the Glow Worm Dell, and nearby town of Blackball.
