South Island West Coast
The West Coast of New Zealand has the power to touch your soul with its landscape of brooding mountains, icy glaciers and surreal coastal formations. To this amazing natural landscape you can add fantastic accommodation, fine foods, festivals and first class local guides. You can raft an underground cave, hike over a glacier, kayak a stunning lake, pan for gold and taste the traditional West Coast delicacy, whitebait. Main centres include Westport, Greymouth, Hokitika, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier and Haast.
The West Coast region is located on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is one of the more isolated and sparsely populated areas of this beautiful land. Much of this land area is rugged, with many people choosing to live in towns along the coastal plains. Reaching from Kahurangi Point in the north to Awarua Point in the south, the West Coast is 600km long, with the wild Tasman Sea rolling in to its western coastline and the vast Southern Alps to the east. The West Coast is divided in to three main districts, the region boasts numerous small townships proud of their West Coast location and full of uniquely New Zealand arts and crafts, cuisine, scenic and adventure opportunities and the people of this region, the "Coasters". The West Coast is New Zealand's longest region and it includes five national parks.
The West Coast has an assorted range of accommodation. From holiday parks and backpackers to homestays. From quality motels to top-class hotels and wilderness lodges. New Zealand West Coast Accommodation - If you are looking for West Coast New Zealand Accommodation including Hotels, Motels (Self-Contained), Bed & Breakfast, Holiday Parks, Backpackers, Deluxe and Apartments, you will find it here on www.justbookmein.co.nz
NORTHERN REGION, BULLER DISTRICT - Found in the northern region of the South Island of New Zealand, this beautifully scenic region covers the unique West Coast towns of Westport, Karamea, Reefton and Inangahu Junction. The Buller District is a stunning combination of inland forests, wild coastline and friendly kiwi towns. Visit Karamea's fascinating Oparara Arches, view a fur seal colony in its natural environment or visit the famous Buller Gorge in Westport, soothe away your aches and pains at Maruia Springs near Reefton. There's so much to see and do in the Buller District!
Karamea is a secluded haven, snuggled into the warm northwest corner of the South Island. The 1½ hour drive from Westport is one of the finest in the South Island of New Zealand. Highlights include coastal scenery, rainforest-clad hills, friendly villages, and the impressive Karamea Bluff, which offers spectacular coastal views. The road is easy to drive and sealed all the way. The area is a natural wonderland, and is the beginning (or end) of the famous Heaphy and Wangapeka tracks, and the Oparara Basin in the Kahurangi National Park. Karamea has a supermarket, a general store, a service station, dining and cafés and a range of transport and accommodation in Karamea to suit all tastes and budgets. Whether you enjoy caving, fishing, walking, botany, geology, hunting, or just a quiet spot to relax, enjoy time out and meet a few locals, Karamea has it all.
Westport - The Westport area is a comfortable day's drive from Nelson, Picton, Kaikoura (via the magnificent Buller Gorge), and from the south of the West Coast. This makes it an ideal place to stay overnight, and allows a relaxed journey and plenty of time to enjoy the sights and experiences on the way.
Westport, a port town near the mouth of the Buller River, is the largest town in the northern West Coast. It offers a range of retail, banking and other services that you would expect in a large centre, including an airport. The mild climate makes the area an ideal outdoor destination for travellers of all ages. Here you can enjoy caving, rafting, jet skiing, jet boating, horse trekking, underworld rafting, surfing, walks, and many other outdoor pursuits. The area also offers some of the region's finest heritage experiences, and a variety of quality restaurants, cafes and accommodation in Westport.
CENTRAL REGION, GREY DISTRICT - Stretching from the south banks of the Punakaiki River in the north to the Taramakau River in the south and out to Moana and the Little Grey River at Ikamatua in the Grey Valley. Greymouth, on the coast by the Tasman Sea and at the mouth of the Grey River, is the main centre of the Grey District and a geographic and commercial heart of the West Coast. An ideal base to explore the beautiful region of the West Coast! Discover the fascinating history of the West Coast by stepping back in time at Shantytown, an interesting replica gold rush town of the 1860's. Explore Punakaiki pancake rocks, a geographical wonder just 45km to the north. Or catch the sixth best epic train journey in the world, the TranzAlpine train journey is a comfortable way to view the amazing landscapes of the Southern Alps and the West Coast.
Punakaiki is most famous for the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes (internationally recognised as one of New Zealand's visitor icons). Located in the heart of the Paparoa National Park, the area offers guided beach, forest and mountain walks, family canoeing, wildlife, horse trekking, surfing, gemstone hunting, caving and climbing, heritage sites ,or simple rest and relaxation. There are taverns, cafes and restaurants, and a great range of accommodation in Punakaiki. Beach walks, gemstone, sunsets, towering limestone cliffs, a relaxed lifestyle amongst lush bush on the shores of the Tasman Sea... it's easy to see why so many artists have made their home on the wild and inspiring Punakaiki Coastline. Punakaiki is located near the centre of the "Coast Road", one of the most spectacular coastal drives in the world. The roads are well sealed all the way.
Greymouth - Greymouth is the largest town on the West Coast, and the commercial centre of the region. As such it offers a range of retail, banking, medical, dental and other services. The Greymouth area offers visitors a wide range of outdoor experiences, including quad bike and 4X4 off-road, mountain biking, river and cave rafting, canoeing, caving, climbing, guided walks and tours, scenic flights, helicopter flights and glacier landings, surfing, gold panning and much more. You will also find fine jade carving, several art galleries and museums, and a variety of café, dining and accommodation services. The TranzAlpine train arrives from and departs to Christchurch daily, and there are air services to/from Greymouth airport. Daily transport services to and from other South Island and West Coast centres are provided by a number of coach and shuttle companies. Greymouth is seen as an ideal base to explore the beautiful region of the West Coast. Greymouth and the Grey District offers the traveller a varied range of accommodation: should it be Hotels, Motel accommodation, luxury lodges, bed & breakfast, holiday parks, camping grounds, backpackers.
Moana - Lake Brunner is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations on the West Coast. The main township of Lake Brunner is Moana, situated at the northern end of the lake. Services include a hotel, and a service centre for motoring needs and grocery supplies. The lake and surrounding rivers and streams offer some of the best brown trout fishing in the South Island, with year round fishing on the lake and some rivers. The Lake Brunner area is well serviced as a holiday destination, with accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, scenic flights, a variety of land and water based activities, including rainforest and mountain walks and, of course, fishing. The area also features abundant bird-life, and a variety of wetlands and rainforest ecosystems. A great place for family holidays with picnics by the lakeside, beautiful bush walks and safe swimming bays. Accommodation in Moana NZ includes hotels, motel accommodation, luxury lodges, bed & breakfast, holiday parks, camping grounds, backpackers.
SOUTHERN REGION, WESTLAND DISTRICT - A long, thin strip of beautiful New Zealand paradise, is the Westland District. A fascinating history, National Parks and a World Heritage area make this region a true New Zealand experience. Visit Hokitika for the world renowned Wild Foods Festival, discover New Zealand's iconic bird the kiwi, at the National Kiwi Centre. Enjoy the action and adventure of Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, glaciers that travel right down in to the rainforest. Head further south for natural beauty in one of many amazing National Parks of the Southern Region or head out in to remote New Zealand to visit tiny fishing villages, the Haast Pass and much more! Each as scenically superb as each other, the districts boasts many small, welcoming towns.
Hokitika - Located by the sea, at the mouth of the Hokitika River, Hokitika is the largest town in Westland District. It offers a range of retail, banking, and other services, and an airport with daily links to Christchurch. Craft artists, sculptors, jewellers, painters and poets have chosen the Hokitika area as their home. Visitors can also enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities, including rafting, canoeing, river cruises, kayaking, scenic flights, bush, lakeside and beach walks, classic car rentals, museums and theatre, and a choice of fine cafes, restaurants, and quality accommodation in Hokitika. For visitors travelling to New Zealand in March, the annual Hokitika Wildfoods Festival (held in March) is a "must do" experience. Hokitika has a wide range of available accommodation including hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, lodge and holiday park accommodation and also holiday homes in Hokitika on the West Coast of New Zealand.
Franz Josef - Franz Josef Glacier is 5km from the town and a 20 minute walk will take you to its terminal face. From the glacier car park, you can hike to a choice of lookout points for a bigger view of this awesome river of ice. Take a guided ice walk or a heli-hike. Other activities include a variety of rafting experiences, white heron sanctuary tours, rainforest and coastal walks. Franz Josef township offers a range of quality accommodation, hotels, cafes, arts and craft retail, a general store and service station for motoring needs. Glacier country is a popular visitor destination, booking ahead in the peak summer season (from Dec-Feb) is an excellent idea.
Fox Glacier - The two main glacier towns of the West Coast, Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, are surprisingly temperate considering their proximity to ancient glaciers and the chilly but strikingly beautiful Southern Alps. Once you get up on the ice though, you'll appreciate that extra layer. Take a scenic flight with a snow landing, a guided hike on the ice or a guided climb with local, professional guides. There's plenty of options for all ages and levels of experience. The Fox Glacier township offers a more intimate "village" experience than its bigger neighbour, Franz Josef. Tucked into the rainforest-clad foothills of the Southern Alps, the township offers a range of quality accommodation, hotels, cafes, a general store and service station for motoring needs. The Fox Glacier offers a different type of glacier experience than the Franz Josef Glacier, and visitors are increasingly booking activities on both glaciers during their visit to Glacier Country. Fox Glacier is also internationally renowned for Lake Matheson's stunning reflections of Aorangi/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman.
FIORDLAND
When you travel to Fiordland, on the southern west coast you will be visiting one of the most dramatic and beautiful parts of New Zealand. You can feel the power of nature here - the remoteness, the wildness and the peace. Real Journeys offer a wide variety of experiences in the Fiordland, including day and overnight cruises in both the Milford and Doubtful Sounds, excursions to the Te Anau Glow worm caves and Milford Track Guided day walks. Doubtful Sound is the second largest of the 14 fiords in Fiordland National Park and it is three times longer and 10 times larger than Milford Sound. The extraordinary scenic beauty has earned this region a reputation as a significant sightseeing and walking destination, and a 'Must See' for anyone travelling to New Zealand.
Te Anau - The hub of the Fiordland region is the attractive town of Te Anau. The attractive town of Te Anau lies nestled on the edge of this beautiful lake, with a spectacular backdrop of Mt Luxmore and the Murchison mountains. From here it is an easy 2 to 2½ hours drive to Milford Sound and 20 minutes by coach to Lake Manapouri and the start of a Doubtful Sound excursion. Te Anau has a range of activity options, fine restaurants, seven days a week shopping and can cater for all levels of accommodation. Lodge, hotel, motel and boutique accommodation in Te Anau provides a restful break in comfort and style, while home and farm stays provide a genuine New Zealand experience. A range of holiday parks, backpacker and budget options ensure that everyone can find accommodation to suit their needs. Accommodation is in high demand during the summer months (particularly in February) and visitors are advised to book in advance.
Manapouri - Nestled next to the shores of Lake Manapouri and the banks of the Waiau River lies the peaceful township of Manapouri. Manapouri the departure point for Doubtful Sound excursions and trips to the West Arm Power Station, the largest underground power generation in the Southern Hemisphere. Manapouri has also become popular for its variety of day and overnight walks on the Manapouri Track. Kayaking on the lake, although weather dependant, is a wonderful way to experience all the remote bays and sandy beaches, the only sounds the song of birds and splash of water. Manapouri provides visitors to the area with a variety of accommodation and with cafes, a restaurant, a garage and hotel, we have all the amenities for those who enjoy peaceful surroundings. Unhurried and picturesque Manapouri is a visit you will enjoy.
The South West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand is a premier holiday destination with accommodation from luxurious resorts, to that perfect campervan park to keep the whole family entertained, affordable backpacker/hostel accommodation, self-contained units to 5 star hotel accommodation!
