Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The West Coast
Why Go?
Hemmed in by the wild Tasman Sea and the Southern Alps, the West Coast is like nowhere
else in New Zealand.
The far extremities of the coast have a remote, end-of-the-road feel, from sleepy Kara-
mea surrounded by farms butting up against Kahurangi National Park, to the southern end
of State Hwy 6, gateway to New Zealand's World Heritage areas. In between is an alluring
combination of wild coastline, rich wilderness, and history in spades.
Built on the wavering fortunes of gold, coal and timber, the stories of Coast settlers are
hair-raising. A hardy and individual breed, they make up less than 1% of NZ's population,
scattered around almost 9% of its land area.
Travellers tend to tick off the 'must see' sights of Punakaiki Rocks, and Franz Josef and
Fox Glaciers. Deviate from the trail even a short way, however, and be awed by the spec-
tacles that await you alone.
When to Go
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During summer the coast road gets relatively busy, particularly with campervan traffic.
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May to September can be warm and clear, with fewer crowds and cheaper accommoda-
tion.
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The West Coast has serious rainfall (around 5m annually) but still sees as much sunshine
as Christchurch.
»
That said, there's little point trying to dodge the drops on a visit to the Coast - just bring
a raincoat and keep your fingers crossed.
»
No matter what time of year, backcountry trampers should check conditions with local
Department of Conservation (DOC) office staff. Rivers can prove seriously treacherous.
Best Short Walks
»
Scotts Beach (
Click here
)
