Discover West Coast NZ And It's Wild Coastline, Mountain Peaks, Glaciers, Clear Lakes And Quaint Towns.
West Coast NZ - this immense untamed natural environment is New Zealand’s most protected region. And at 600 kilometres it is also New Zealand's longest region, hugging the South Island's western coastline.
The West Coast NZ region includes a world heritage site and five of New Zealand’s 14 national parks. Conservation is extremely important to New Zealanders and nowhere is
We are constantly amazed at the sheer beauty of this part of New Zealand, and by the ever changing landscape. In a short space of time the scenery can change from wild crashing surf, to snow capped peaks, then to stunning lakes and icy glaciers. Every bend in the road seems to reveal a new amazing photo opportunity, and it pays to take your time as you travel through the region so that you don't miss the best bits.
The rugged coastline provides the perfect environment for wildlife and vegetation which flourish in the rain forests and icy slopes of the Southern Alps. Around Punakaiki the unique Nikau palm can be seen hugging the coastline. 
And of course the region is also home to the famous Fox and Franz Josef glaciers, which are perhaps the West Coast's main tourist attractions.
There are around 140 glaciers throughout the Southern Alps, but Franz Josef and Fox are the only two that extend down to the lower rainforests, and terminate around 250 metres above sea level. The only other place that this occurs is in Argentina! This makes the glaciers easily accessible. These "twin" glaciers are about 25 kilometres apart by road. Both Franz Josef and Fox villages have a good range of accommodation, several gift shops, tour operators, pubs and restaurants. We have stayed at the Punga Grove Motel & Suites
The diverse landscape also attracts adventure seekers to a wide range of activities such as heli-hiking on glaciers, skydiving and white water rafting. We have done the heli landing on Franz Josef. What an amazing experience. But be warned, the weather conditions can change rapidly on the West Coast NZ, and while bookings are essential, cancellations are sometimes necessary if the weather closes in.
A Little Bit Of West Coast NZ History The West Coast NZ region is the only New Zealand source of
Maori valued pounamu for its strength, durability and beauty, and used it to make tools and jewellery. New Zealand jade is considered tapu (sacred) to the Maori people. Today, the best place to view jade is in the township of Hokitika, which has a wide range of jade workshops and retail outlets. The Ngati
In the 1860s gold discoveries brought many Europeans to the region. The gold rush created several boom towns. For example, Hokitika (now famous for its Jade industry), with a current population of around 3,000, was once home to over 25,000 people, and had over 100 pubs. We have had several overnight stops in Hokitika and can recommend the Shining Star Beachfront Accommodation. These clean, comfortable beach front cabins have a front deck which is a great spot to sit and watch the sun setting over the sea. And even better, they are also located across the road from a glow worm cave.
Protection of A Precious Place - West Coast NZ "Coasters", as the locals are known, are very protective of their environment, and are increasingly keen to ensure that it is
Located 15 minutes from Westport, the luxurious Birds Ferry Lodge , has a Qualmark enviro gold rating for environmental sustainability. A true eco lodge, Birds Ferry Lodge has adopted energy efficient processes and a keen focus on maintaining the natural environment. If you are looking for peace and quiet, and a chance to be "at one with nature", this may well be the place for you. The Lodge has no TV, no landline, and no clocks!
The West Coast NZ - A Wonderful Variety Of Wildlife The region's coastline is home to
One of our favourite West Coast spots is Punakaiki. Punakaiki is best known for the Pancake Rocks and blowholes. Located in
And one of our favourite things about Punakaiki is the Punakaiki Resort
Although only a small village, we always find Punakaiki a great place to stop for the night, particularly if we are travelling down the coast from the
Tasman region.
More than 140 glaciers flow down from the Southern Alps, but only Fox and Franz Josef glaciers reach as far as the region's lower rainforests - one of only two places in the world where a glacier meets a rainforest.
The Great Outdoors on the West Coast NZ The West Coast NZ region's natural wonders provide the backdrop for many adventure activities. At Franz Josef and Fox - two of the world’s most accessible glaciers -
And There Is Lots More To Do On The West Coast NZ Here are a few ideas: * Around 5 kilometres from Fox Glacier village sits perhaps the most photographed lake in New Zealand, Lake Matheson. The flat return walk from the carpark takes around 90 minutes, and leads you to the stunning mirrored lake where Mt Cook and Mt Tasman are reflected in the still waters. A photographers paradise! 
* The Haast Pass road which leads from Haast through to Wanaka is one of the most spectacular drives in the country. Along the way there are numerous points of interest such as the 30 metre Thunder Creek Falls (a five minute walk from the roadside), the cascading waters of Roaring Billy (a short walk from the roadside), the colourful Blue Pools (30 minute return walk), and the Neck, a narrow strip of land between the twin lakes of Hawea and Wanaka. * If you are in Greymouth, a tour of Monteith's Brewery is well worthwhile. Learn all about the brewing process and at the end of the tour they have a beer tasting! * The National Kiwi Centre in Hokitika has displays of kiwis, giant eels (up to 60 kg), native fish, and the strange Tuatara. The centre breeds kiwi and then releases them into the wild, helping to preserve the population of this New Zealand icon. * Hokitika is also the Pounamu / Greenstone capital of NZ. There are various retail outlets where you can purchase jade jewellery and trinkets, and there are also several workshops where you can watch master craftsmen at work.
* Hokitika Gorge is well worth a look. A 20 minute walk takes you over the Hokitika river on a swinging bridge, to the beautiful turquoise pools of the gorge. * The Knight's Point lookout, on the highway north of Haast Village, has spectacular coastal views. Display boards have information on local geology and wildlife. There are also public toilets on site. * Around 3.5 kilometres north of Knight's Point is Munro Beach. An easy 2 hour return walk takes you to the beach where you may see fur seals, and in the early morning and late afternoon, Fiordland Crested Penguin, as they leave and return to their nests. * Around 30 minutes north of Franz Josef at Whataroa, White Heron Tours are the only operator licensed to take tours to the Kotuku/White Heron colony at nearby Waitangi Roto Nature Reserve. The tour operates from mid September to March. The round trip takes about 2.5 to 3 hours and includes a short minibus ride to connect you with a jetboat, which takes you into the reserve. As well as Kotuku, you may also see Royal Spoonbill, the Little Black Shag, and several other species. Enjoy! West Coast NZ - A Few Interesting Bits and Pieces * Fox Glacier is huge (and speedy). It measures 13km in length and moves at around 10 times the speed of other valley glaciers around the world.
* The West Coast NZ region is 600km long. * West Coast NZ has five national parks and one world heritage site. * Way back in August 1888, the small settlement of Reefton achieved the distinction of becoming the first southern hemisphere town to have electric street lighting. * The West Coast NZ is home to the town of Greymouth, which is the arrival and departure point for the world famous
Tranzalpine Train
which takes travellers on a spectacular journey from the West Coast NZ (departs Greymouth), through the Southern Alps to
Christchurch.
Watch This Short Video About The West Coast NZ
For more information on the West Coast NZ region, click here to visit the Tourism New Zealand web site.
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this more evident than on the West Coast, where roughly 90 percent of the area is administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC). Their website has lots of great information on the
at Franz Josef several times and can vouch for its cleanliness and facilities. It's also a short walk to the pubs and restaurants.
On the day of our heli landing we were blessed with a crystal clear sky, so conditions were absolutely perfect for our flight. We had never been in a helicopter so the experience of rising vertically from take off was quite something. It's just like sitting in your lounge chair at home but before you know it, you are hundreds of feet in the air. We followed the glacier and were stunned by the blue shades of the ice, the deep crevasses, and waterfalls as we made our way to the top of Franz Josef. As we reached the top we couldn't believe what we were seeing....a vast snow field stretching as far as we could see. Then we landed gently and hopped out onto the soft slippery snow. We have never experienced air as crisp and clean as that day. We stood there stunned by the beauty of this unbelievable place. After a few minutes we climbed back into the helicopter for our descent to Franz Josef village. The views were beautiful and we could see way out to sea.
There are so many amazing things to see and do in New Zealand, but we can highly recommend a heli flight and landing. You can view several different flights by clicking on the links on the right hand side of this page. Enjoy!
Wairangi iwi (tribe) were the first settlers on the West Coast NZ. For some time they (and their jade supplies) were protected from other tribes by the alps dividing the east and west coasts. However, they were eventually defeated by the Ngai Tahu who found their way across the alps and began to fight for the precious Jade.
of an 1800's gold rush village, and gives you a feel for what it was like for the region's pioneers.
protected and preserved for future generations. Several local Eco lodges embrace this passion for the environment.
Similarly, Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki, located within the Te Wahipounamu South West New Zealand world heritage site, is a true paradise for nature lovers. Located about 90 kilometres south of Fox Glacier, Wilderness Lodge offers guests a stunning rainforest setting, and a range of nature tours with experienced guides. Fur seals, Fiordland Crested Penguins, and Hector's Dolphins are just some of the wildlife that you may encounter on one of their tours. Combine this with quality accommodation and cuisine and you have a perfect retreat from the hassles of day to day life.
several rare wildlife species, including the endangered Hector’s dolphin and the Fiordland crested penguin. Okarito lagoon has New Zealand’s only white heron breeding colony, and there’s a New Zealand fur seal breeding colony at Cape Foulwind (aptly named if the wind is blowing off the seal colony!), just south of Westport. The colony is well worth a look, not only to see the seals, but also for the wonderful scenery. Remember your camera!
, a beautiful beach front hotel. The hotel is literally metres from the beach, and rooms overlook the ocean. They have a very good restaurant, and we can highly recommend it as a great place to unwind at day's end, watching the sun set over the ocean.
And on a clear day, the Southern Alps are visible across the bay.
guides take hiking tours through seracs, pinnacles, caves and crevasses. Adventure-seekers can also try ice-climbing, mountaineering and
* The snow accumulation area on Fox Glacier is 36 sq km bigger than the South Island's main city, Christchurch.
Wow! Check Out This West Coast NZ Tourism Video!
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