PRINT MODULESection Two West Coast
Glacier Country
Westland National Park can be accessed from this area - the small villages of Fox Glacier and Franz Josef are right on the Park boundary and are located just 5 km/ 3 miles from their respective glaciers. Each of the glaciers descends 2,500 metres/ 8202 feet in a journey of over 13 km/ 8 miles. They are remarkable in their accessibility and extend into valley floors.
The smaller rural communities of Harihari and Whataroa, are en route to the glaciers. Harihari offers great coastal walks while Whataroa is the base for trips to the nearby kotuku (white heron) sanctuary.
Attractions and activities
- Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers: A range of companies offer guided walking and heli-hiking excursions to explore the spectacular ice formations. All companies provide professional guides that give full explanations regarding the geological features, flora and fauna of the area.
- White heron sanctuary, Whataroa: Only nesting colony of the white heron (kotuku) in New Zealand. The bird's breeding season is between October and March.
- Coastal Okarito: a major feeding area for birds, with over 70 species recorded.
- Scenic flights over Westland National Park and the glaciers: These flights can include snow landings.
- Lake Matheson (10 mins from Fox Glacier): On a clear day visitors will see perfect reflections of New Zealand's highest peaks.
- Glacier Hot Pools - situated in the heart of Franz Josef township, the pools are surrounded by native bush and birdlife. www.glacierhotpools.com
- West Coast Wildlife Centre in Franz Josef: an all weather indoor activity for visitors to see New Zealand’s rarest kiwi, the Rowi, which can only be found in the Franz Josef region.
Southern West Coast
At the bottom of the West Coast region lies Mount Aspiring National Park. The closest settlements to the park are Haast and Jackson’s Bay. Within a fifty kilometre radius the total population is 300 people.
Activities in the area:
- Jetboating: Several operators offer visitors experiences on the Haast and Makaroa rivers ranging from one hour to full day tours.
- Guided tours: visitors can experience the remoteness of Haast with a local guide.
- Jackson’s Bay: A drive of 50 kilometres south of the main highway from Haast takes visitors to Jackson’s Bay, a fishing village set deep in southern West Coast. The bay is a natural ocean harbour sheltered from the prevailing winds, and thus attracted settlers in the 1870s. The iron-framed grave on the foreshore testifies to the misery encountered by these early European settlers. There is a wharf where visitors can sit and contemplate the early settlers’ first encounters with this landscape.
Recommended base:
Haast provides a stopping point mid-way from the Glaciers to Wanaka or Queenstown and is a base for exploring the area.
Regions and attractions in close proximity to West Coast:
Wanaka borders the West Coast to the south. The following places are points of interest enroute to Wanaka:
Haast Pass: The drive from West Coast to Wanaka passes through spectacular scenery. This route was a traditional pathway for Maori en route to the West Coast in search of pounamu (greenstone or jade).
Makarora: A small settlement along the route is a stepping-off point for several multi-day walks in Mount Aspiring National Park. A number of shorter walks line the highway from Makarora to Haast, taking visitors to deep blue swimming holes or cascading waterfalls.
Nelson and Marlborough: The West Coast is accessible from to regions from the North and can be reached via the Buller Gorge.
Enroute to the West Coast region
From Christchurch there are two routes to access the West Coast of the South Island - Arthur’s Pass and Lewis Pass.
Arthurs Pass
Winding in places, Arthur’s Pass is one of the country's most scenic routes. The road travels through Arthur's Pass National Park www.doc.govt.nz. High mountains with large scree (loose rock) slopes feature along with wide, braided rivers, deep gorges and picturesque lakes.
Arthur's Pass village lies in the centre of the Park, 2 hours 10 mins from the city of Christchurch in the east and 1 hour 25 mins from Greymouth in the west.
Activities in the area
Arthur's Pass National Park walks: A network of tracks leads into remote valleys and high alpine passes. In summer these are suitable for groups of average fitness and experience.
Lake Brunner and the small township of Moana (20 minutes inland from Greymouth): sweeping views from lakeside tracks, renowned trout-fishing opportunities or boat cruises on the Lake.
Lewis Pass
Lewis Pass located in the northern part of Canterbury, crosses the main divide of the Southern Alps to the West Coast. From Christchurch the route travels past Hanmer Springs (which is 10km from Highway 7), via Lake Sumner Forest Park, up to the top of the Pass, then down to Maruia Hot Springs, through Springs Junction and then out to the east coast.
Attractions enroute:
Maruia Springs Thermal Resort: On the Lewis Pass Road to Christchurch (State Highway 7): thermal hot pools with a variety of accommodation and walks close by.
From the North
Visitors touring from the North Island and crossing between the islands on the ferry will firstly pass through Marlborough before heading through to the Canterbury region. The first district in the Canterbury region they will reach is Kaikoura. The traveling distance between Picton and Kaikoura is 2 hours 15 minutes.
To the South
To the South the Southern Lakes regions and Dunedin on the east coast border Canterbury. Typical routes from Christchurch follow the inland roads through Canterbury to Mt Cook and onward to the Southern Lakes regions. Visitors can choose to either cross to the West Coast via Haast or cross to the eastern regions of the South Island - Southland and Dunedin.
