Wild West Coast of New Zealand. It’s the soul!
Well Hello! Here we are on the sunny wild West Coast of New Zealand. It’s the South Island road trip that you want to take to view the Jurassic landscape.
The West Coast of New Zealand is unlike any other place on Earth. For a start, it’s over 550 kilometres of striking coastline incorporating rainforest, bush-clad mountains and isolated beaches. The majority of the area is National Parks, with only a small per cent being residential. Most of the residents live in the two largest towns – Greymouth and Westport.
If you want to get away from masses of tourists and traffic, the West Coast is the place to come. There are kilometres of beaches with no one on them. And, spending a couple of hours on a wild surf beach with you and the waves and no other people for miles is a once in a lifetime experience.
The area is a nature lovers paradise – The national parks, the old-growth forests dropping to the sea, the dramatic coastal tracks and the rainforest walks. Further, not many places in this world exist where you can have a safe walk through the lush forest. There are hiking tracks where you can do a 30-minute walk or a 5-day walk. Each one offers you a massive dose of fauna and flora of native New Zealand.
Road Trips, Beaches, Rivers & Fishing
Our favourite thing to do on the West Coast is to take a road trip on the endless coastal roads. It is one of our favourite road trips in the world. We love to stop and go on the many short hikes on the walking tracks and fossicking on the beaches. There are decorative stones on the beach, including agate and jade. The surf is often wild and roars in and pounds majestically on the shores. It is an ideal location for travel photographers. And for sure, you will be the envy of all your Instagram friends.
Additionally, the rivers are another highlight. The West Coast is the rainiest place in New Zealand. Therefore, rivers, streams, lakes and waterfalls exist in abundance. What we love about New Zealand rivers is how fresh, clean and pristine they are. In the Summer, they are a refreshing swim, and the views are absolutely stunning. We feel like we are in Paradise on Earth. And, even though it is a rare possibility that we may find a nugget, we can’t help but fossick for gold in the rivers. Other than that, the fishing in the rivers includes trout, flounder, salmon and New Zealanders favourite delicacy whitebait.
Greymouth
Greymouth is the largest town on the West Coast with an approximate population of 9,700. Many visitors to the West Coast arrive in Greymouth by Tranz Scenic rail for a day trip. An hour later they return on the same train. Big mistake! Don’t get us wrong, the Tranz Scenic rail trip is one of the best in the world! Our opinion is that it is the best. It is three and a half hours of gliding through mountains. There are views of waterfalls, rivers, lakes, and pristine Jurassic nature. You feel the solitude and space rarely found anywhere on our Earth except perhaps in the far reaches of Alaska or Norway. And then you do it all again for the 3.5 hours return trip to Christchurch to see what you overlooked!
But those who don’t stay a few nights are missing out on some of the most pristine and wildest parts of New Zealand.
Read next – Christchurch to The West Coast New Zealand
A Road Trip through the Southern Alps (Via Arthurs Pass).
Greymouth is predominately a fishing and mining town. Most tourists just stopover to get supplies. But don’t miss the mighty Grey River, especially after heavy rain. Along the banks, there is a walk with memorials, statues and opportunity to learn about coal mining and the Gold Rush of the West Coast and New Zealand.
Westport
The 2nd most sizable town on the West Coast has a vibrant fishing industry and a gold and coal mining history. It is a stepping off point for the spectacular drive to the top of the South Island. Here is the home of Kahurangi National Park – New Zealand’s 2nd largest National Park.
The road trip from Westport to Karamea combines remote seaside villages, endless beaches and grand mountain views. At Karamea is the door to The Heaphy Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. It is a 4-6 day walk through remote wilderness.
Tauranga Bay Seal Colony is 12 kilometres West of Westport. Sometimes you can see a hundred seals lazily sunbaking on the rocks. And, the nearby Cape Foulwind Walkway is one of the remarkable coastal walks you can do in the area.
Hokitika
Hokitika is our favourite small town on the West Coast. Home to the world-famous Wildfoods Festival, it has that beach town feel. The Wildfoods Festival is held every year in March and is your opportunity to sample foods you have never tried – possum, huhu grubs, deer sperm, pigs ears and fish eyes.
On top of that, Hokitika has some cool old buildings with several museums and galleries as well as souvenir shops. It’s one of the best places to buy jade, and you can even carve your own.
And don’t miss one of the highlights of the whole area. A 25-kilometre drive through lush farmland takes you to the highlight of Hokitika – the unique Hokitika Gorge. It is a brief walk to the vibrant milky blue waters of the river. It is an Instagrammers dream with no filter required.
Punakaiki & Pancake Rocks
Heading 40km north of Greymouth is Punakaiki. It is where New Zealand’s geological wonder Pancake Rocks lie. Time and Mother Nature have sculpted the limestone rocks to resemble pancakes. The blowholes are phenomenal at high tide. Tourists flock to see the impressive show that you can’t find anywhere else in the country. Further, with the abundance of walking tracks, caving, and adventure activities such as horse riding and canoeing, Punakaiki is a nature lovers paradise.
The tiny village has a diverse range of accommodation options ranging from hotels, motels, caravan park and beach house rentals. In addition to this, the West Coast is a freedom campers utopia and, in the Punakaiki area, you can camp on the beachfront.
Note, if you stay a few days, make sure you get your supplies from Greymouth or Westport. There are minimal food options here, except for one pub and a cafe.
Don’t Miss these West Coast of New Zealand Highlights –
Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers
The worlds most low-lying glaciers are a bucket list dream. You can take a scenic flight with spectacular views of this extraordinary World Heritage Area. Also, there are beautiful rainforest walks to the viewing platforms for the glaciers.
The Coastal Drive
The 100-kilometre road trip from Westport to Greymouth is one of the best coastal drives in the world. You will see dramatic panoramas and rainforests meeting the sea. Best of all, you can often drive for miles and not see a single car.
Paparoa National Park
This spectacular national park boasts some of the most astonishing natural phenomena. There are steep limestone cliffs, caves, rivers, wildlife and an abundance of New Zealand native old-growth coastal forest.
West Coast Sunset
The sunsets on the West Coast are remarkable. They are vivid and colourful, and you can watch the sun setting into the dramatic sea. We think they are among the best we have seen in the world. Make sure you allow time to watch the sunset on the West Coast.
The West Coast of New Zealand is one of our favourite regions in the country. Every visitor to New Zealand, as well as every New Zealander, should visit this wondrous place. It is an experience that will not only last forever in your memories but also your heart.
For more information on the West Coast of New Zealand, the official West Coast Tourism website has detailed information on activities in the region.
Read Next – New Zealand Top 6 Travel Highlights. As ranked by the Editor of Travel Bugs World.
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I remember the coast well, Hokitika was also a favourite of mine on that part of our journey. Franz Josef was another. Wish we had done a helicopter ride though to see it from above.
Brings back great memories NZ was one of my first solo trips.
Every blog post I read makes me more sorry that we had to cancel our trip to Australia and New Zealand this year. I could certainly handle the west coast with striking coastlines and secluded beaches! Good to know that Hokitika is your favourite small town. And one we should put on our travel itinerary. Pancake rocks, glaciers and that coast drive are great reasons to spend some time here!
Definitely a bucket list trip for us. We actually have an itinerary all ready to go one of these years. The west coast looks spectacular and would be a must see part for sure! Will have to check my list of places 😀
This post is giving me so much New Zealand envy! I’ve done a few of these and the landscape never fails to blow me away.
I’ve never been to New Zealand but it’s been somewhere I’ve wanted to go for a long time. I need to go to see the pancake rocks. I’ve never seen formations that look like those anywhere else.
Beautiful! We’ve been craving a trip to NZ, but have secretly been curious if we’d move that way at some point so just haven’t made our way there yet! Gorgeous pictures!
What a beautiful country! I would love to explore…especially along the coastline.
Did you have any luck fossicking on the beach? That sounds like a really chilled out side trip with a difference!
wonderful and very detailed post! New Zealand is on the top of my list. Thanks for sharing
I love road trips along coastal roads! This looks like it would be a great one 🙂
This looks amazing, especially Hokitika Gorge. So much nature to enjoy. And beaches all to yourself – wow!
What an amazing trip! The blues of Hokitika Gorge are absolutely stunning! Also, the pancake rocks – i’ve never seen anything like it! Thanks for sharing 🙂
If I wasn’t in awe of New Zealand, I definitely am now! I’ve not yet been though would love to. All of these small towns are calling me! Hokitika looks wonderfully peaceful and surrounded by incredible nature.
Sold! This looks amazing. We are definitely heading to NZ; just need to decide when. We will probably hire (or buy?) a camper van to do an extensive road trip. What is camping like in this area? Is wild camping allowed
Can’t wait to visit New Zealand to do another epic road trip. Hokitika Gorge and the pancake rocks look amazing. Think I’ll skip the strange food fest, thank you! I’ve heard that there isn’t much in the way of animals and wild life in New Zealand. Did you see much?
We have thought that about many countries we have been to. Oddly someone else said they heard this about New Zealand too.
There’s no bears, wolfs or snakes in NZ.
Mostly birds and possums.
If you go tramping you have more opportunities. But wild pigs and deer are pretty hard to spot, though they are there.
We visited the West Coast of NZ many years ago, briefly. Big mistake! Such a long way for a brief visit. Yet, I remember driving along by the Wild West Coast – so very beautiful. The highlight of our NZ trip were the glaciers. Stunning! And yes it was super wet!!! Yet all so incredibly beautiful
What a stunning coast. I’m sold. Sounds like you could spend a long time here with the trails, glaciers, beaches and everything. I’m guessing you have. I just have one question though. Did I misread that bit about the deer?
No John you did not misread about the deer sperm at Hokitika Wildfoods Festival.
The men think it increases their stamina. haha
A 8 month pregnant woman drank it to make her baby strong!
I just realised that there’s a running theme of animal sperm. What’s up with you? 😂
I did not have any, i swear! But Geoffo did! haha
This was all sounding really good, with uncrowded beaches, roadtrips and hikes. Then you said one can find agate and jade on the beach?? Uh oh get me on there and I’ll never, ever leave! Had no idea jade was a thing in New Zealand. Really can’t wait to visit NZ. But, skipping the wild foods fest with the grubs sperm and so on. 😖🤣
We didn’t get to go there on our NZ trip but we’re hoping to return at some point to see more. The West Coast looks and sounds beautiful.