Christchurch to Westport
West Coast Self Drive Travel Guide

  Travel Facts
Distance: 340 km (211 miles )
Approximately: 4 hours 30 minutes
Road Conditions:
State Highway 1 Christchurch to Waipara Junction
State Highway 7 Waipara Junction to Reefton
State Highway 69 Reefton to Inangahua Junction
State Highway 6 Inangahua Junction to Westport.

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Christchurch - Waipara - Hanmer - Lewis Pass - Reefton - Westport

Following State Highway 1 north from Christchurch the first obstacles are the Waimakariri and Ashley Rivers. Passing to the west of the township of Kaiapoi, the road continues it's slow climb through Woodend and Amberley before meeting State Highway 7 from the Lewis Pass at Waipara, approximately 60kms from Christchurch.

Set at the southern end of the Greta Valley, Waipara has several wineries in the area, and the Weka Pass Steam train excursion. From January through to the end of March the train departs at 11.30am and 2pm, during the remainder of the year it runs on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.

 

Christchurch - Waipara - Hanmer - Lewis Pass - Reefton - Westport

Leaving SH1 at Waipara we head inland following State Highway 7 through the Weka Pass to Waikari and the initially steep down hill run to the Hurunui River. At the Historic Hurunui Hotel just before the river, you can experience real ostrich or rabbit pies. About 13 kms further on we cross the Hurunui River and pass through the Balmoral Forest in the heart of the Amuri plain. This is a wonderful part of North Canterbury with picnic and camp ground facilities right beside the river.

The next township we come to is Culverden approximately 40km from Waipara, at Red Post Corner just north of the town, at the end of the long straight run across the Amuri plain we follow the highway to the left and begin the long gentle climb up the Waiau River Valley to Hanmer Junction and on to the Lewis Pass.

From the junction it is approximately 10kms to Hanmer Springs township.

Hanmer Springs

If you have the time Hanmer is a great place for that holiday break relaxing in the Hot Springs. An Alpine Spa town with a long history dating back to the 1860's the towns main attraction is of course the pools, but there are also many walks in the exotic conifer forest. With the Amuri skifield being a popular attraction in the winter months as snow blankets the mountain tops.

 

Christchurch - Waipara - Hanmer - Lewis Pass - Reefton - Westport

From the Hanmer Junction it is a steady and steep climb on good roads through beech forest to the Lewis Pass. Just before the pass you will find the start of the St James Walkway. Here are two easy walks. A nature trail around the nearby Alpine wetland and a longer (2 hour return walk) down to the scenic Cannibal Gorge, so named according to the story, for the actions of a party of Ngai Tahu warriors who are said to have beaten a group of Ngati Wairangi and ... the Gorge name says the rest.

Winter Snow on the Lewis Pass, 2010.

The Lewis Pass is the easiest of those through the Alps to the West Coast, although it is the lowest it can still be closed by winter snow. At Marui Springs on the western side of the pass there is another opportunity to experience the thermal nature of the region. With both public and private pools, the water is piped from the northern bank of the river.

About 2kms beyond Maruia is the Waterfall track. This walking track is an easy 20 minutes return and well worth the time.

From here the road undulates through the alps as it winds down to Marble hill and Springs Junction. Now don't let this interfer with your journey and enjoyment but you will cross the Alpine Fault line just before Marble Hill.

This line is where two of those plates of the planets surface grind against each other, pushing the Southern Alps ever upward. Here the Pacific Continental Plate pushes it's way past the Indo-Australasian plate. This line cuts virtually the enter length of the South Island from Milford Sound in the south to the Nelson Lakes region. Hence the number of thermal pools and springs in the immediate area, and reason for the large earthquakes that have been recorded west of the Southern Alps.

Springs Junction

At Springs Junction SH7 meets the inland route SH65 to Murchison, and the north west Nelson Tasman region. Following Highway 65 north you can take the alternate route along the Buller River to Westport from O'Sullivans bridge. At the bridge turn left across the Buller and continue on SH6 through to Inangahua and Westport.

From Springs Junction our route, SH7 continues on an initally steep incline to Reefton, through Beech forest this is an incredible journey at anytime of the year.

 

Christchurch - Waipara -Hanmer - Lewis Pass - Reefton - Westport

The West Coasts only inland town Reefton is named for the quartz reefs that surround the region. Set between the Victoria and Paparoa ranges the town is picturesque and packed with history.

Hawks Crag. Lower Buller Gorge.

The first town in the southern hemisphere to have electric street lighting Reefton has many restored historic buildings that are still used to this day by local business.

A must stop is the awesome Visitor center, with many walks, tours and adventures in the area you can easily spend a day or two investigating and enjoying all that the town has to offer.

From Reefton we pass on to Sate Highway 69 for the short but interesting journey through the Inangahua River Valley to the junction with State Highway 6.

From here, Inangahua Junction, the drive to Westport follows the mighty Buller River around the edge of mountains, skirting river flats to Berlins and on to the Lower Gorge Road. At Hawks Crag the road way is a single lane that is literally cut into the mountain side.

With banks of native Rata giving way to farmed river flats this final leg to Westport is an easy journey rising over lowland hills to the township at themouth of the mighty River.

Westport

Westport is the largest town of the Buller known as a coal mining town and a base for outdoor adventures.

Westport. Buller, West Coast. New Zealand

The local coal mining museum is a good place to learn more of the history of the town and region while experiencing the reality of being down the mine.

At the mouth of the mighty Buller River, the township can righfully boast as being the first port of the Coast. Founded in June of 1861 by an adventerous storekeeper Ruben Waite, who established a small permanent settlement after exploring Buller. Waite latter helped in the establishment of Greymouth.

There are numerous side trips to be enjoyed in the region, and awesome adventures to be had.

 

Welcome to Westport - enjoy your stay.

This Guide last Updated: February 2011