West Coast Scenic Attractions
New Zealand Travel Guide.
The West Coast is a rugged diverse region of micro-climates amid sub-tropical rain forest. Carved by many snow and glacier feed rivers the region is approximately 550kms long and at it widest point a mere 75kms from alps to sea. Here you will find among many other wonders and awesome sights;
- Garth Wilson Jade,
Rutherglen Road, Greymouth. 
Jade (greenstone) Jewellery and sculptures.
If you are looking for a special piece of jade, come and meet Garth in his studio on the road to Shantytown.
I have personally carved all the jade works in my studio and each design has its own special story. You'll be able to see me carving and handle some of the best jade rocks that my whanau and I have found over the years. I look forward to meeting you soon
- On Yer Bike!,
State Highway 6, Runanga. Greymouth. 4x4 bike, kart and hagglund off road adventures.
Just 5 minutes north of Greymouth On Yer Bike is perfectly located for the start of your Greymouth and Grey District adventures. With tracks, trails and packages to suit almost every age, the wetter it is the better you'll like it.
Pre booking is recommended during the Tourist season (October - March). While your there check out Little Village, a replica of the former Waiuta mining town and the Gumboot Cafe, open during business hours for a light snack and warm drink.
- Shantytown,
Rutherglen Road, Greymouth. Replica 1880's mining town.
Explore the heart, heritage and culture of the Coast and early miners among this premier attraction.
Set on a former gold mining site, the village includes many thousands of relics from the past each carefully laid out for your optimum viewing pleasure. But Shantytown is much more than just a living museum … ride the Steam train on Infants Creek Railway, try your hand at Gold Panning ...
- Buller Gorge Swingbridge,
Murchison, Wet Coast. Comet Line, Jet Boat, Gold Panning.
At 110 metres in length the Buller Gorge Swingbridge is New Zealand's longest swingbridge.
At the Buller Gorge Swingbridge Adventure and Heritage Park you can take a few minutes or hours to explore nature and history on the many walks on the far side or get right into thrillseeking on the Comet Line (Flying Fox) or Supaman ride. The upper Gorge also provides one of the best Jet boat rides on the Gold Rush Jet.
- Honeycomb Hill Caves, Oparara Basin, Karamea. Buller
Karamea is approximately 100kms north of Westport from here it is a 26 km drive on sealed and unsealed roads to the Oparara Basin.
View the skeletal remains of moa and other extinct native birds in an amazing limestone landscape on a guided tour of the Honeycomb Hill Caves and Oparara Arch. At 43 metres high and 219 metres long the arch is one of the largest in Australasia.
Set amongst pristine native rain forest the area is truly awesome and well worth a night or two stop over in Karamea to allow time to explore other walks and tracks in the area.
The Caves are protected ... access is by guided tour only.
- Cape Foulwind Walkway and Seal Colony. Westport, Buller
The Cape Foulwind headland is well known for the New Zealand Fur Seal colony, but also includes sooty shearwater - a large sea-going petrel - and blue penguins.
A quality short track takes you to viewing platforms that overlook the seal colony. This walk has been designed specifically to accommodate wheelchairs.
A longer walkway stretches from Cape Foulwind down to Tauranga Bay along the coastline. The Walkway starts at the end of the Cape Foulwind Road and finishes at the Tauranga Bay car park. The walk is one-way and you will need to arrange transport or return along the path.
- Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. Punakaiki, Buller
Located at Dolomite Point, near the little settlement of Punakaiki on SH6, The Coast Road, the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes are 40 minutes drive north of Greymouth and 45 minutes south of Westport.
Formed 30 million years ago from minute fragments of dead marine creatures and plants on the seabed about 2 km below the surface.
The Rocks and Blowholes are a 20 minute loop walk from where you park your vehicle on the main highway at Punakaiki.
- Lake Brunner. Grey District, West Coast.
Lake Brunner is the largest Lake on the Coast and a popular holiday destination overflowing with water and land based activities, only 35km inland from Greymouth.
The Lake was gouged out by a branch of the Taramakau Glacier and is one of many lakes within the area of the Grey River catchment that include Lakes Poerua, Kangaroo, Lady, Haupiri, Hochstetter and Ahaura.
Easily reached for a 3 hour stop over on the world famous, Tranz Alpine.
- Franz Josef Glacier, Westland.
Franz Josef Glacier offers visitors the opportunity to experience a dynamic glacial environment, in a temperate zone, within easy driving and walking distance from the main highway.
The terminal face of the glacier is less than 300 metres above sea level and is just one of three to be this close to the coastline. Although in the last ice age the glacier extended well beyond the coastline.
Do not be fooled, Franz Josef is not Fox Glacier and the experience of one does not compare to the other. The Glaciers have this in common, "they extend to around 250 metres above sea level. The terminal faces should not be approached to closely." At that point all similarity ends.
- A note of Caution
Never venture onto Franz Josef or Fox Glacier unless you are in the company of one of the guides. The Glaciers are living moving rivers of ice, and can be dangerous to life and limb.
- Fox Glacier, Westland.
In the last ice age Fox Glacier extended well beyond the present coastline. Although the glacier has retreated, it left reminders of its frozen past such as Lake Matheson in the present landscape
Less than 6 kms from Fox Glacier township, the Glacier Valley has a number of walks with differing yet none the less spectacular views of the glacier. At 13 km long, the Fox Glacier is one of the longest of the many within the Park.
Do not be fooled, Fox Glacier is not Franz Josef Glacier and the experience of one does not compare to the other. The Glaciers have this in common, "they extend to around 250 metres above sea level. The terminal faces should not be approached to closely." At that point all similarity ends.
Visit the West Coast web site for more indepth information: www.westcoastdriveguide.co.nz
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