Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
West Coast
Why Go?
Hemmed in by the Tasman Sea and the Southern Alps, the wild and sparsely populated West
Coast lays claim to three national parks and large tracts of three more, encompassed within a
conservation estate covering nearly 90% of its land area.
Unsurprisingly, the Department of Conservation (DOC) is very active here, reworking ex-
isting tracks and helping to build new ones, such as the Old Ghost Road. This and many oth-
ers follow the byways of pioneer-era miners and loggers, who left in their wake rusting relics
and landmarks that bring their stories to life.
There are splendid tramps from one end of the coast to the other, not just through Kahur-
angi, Paparoa and Westland Tai Poutini National Parks, but also within the many parks and
reserves that fill in the gaps.
While its remoteness and reputation for wet weather puts many trampers off, the West
Coast stands as one of New Zealand's most rewarding tramping destinations.
When to Go
The West Coast is renowned for its rain, although the locals are liable to tell you that it falls
mainly in big drops, and mostly at night. What is a fact is that the average rainfall in the low-
lands is between 2000mm and 3000mm, 5000mm at the foot of the Alps, and in excess of
11,000mm a year in areas above 1200m. Much of it falls in late winter and spring. Flooded
and impassable rivers, however, should be expected at any time of year.
Warm ocean currents sweep along the coast, resulting in a surprisingly mild climate. Mid-
summer to autumn can be exceptionally sunny, with long spells of settled weather. Westport
and Punakaiki average almost 2000 hours of sunshine annually.
Best Views
A
Rocky Tor (
Click here
)
A
Specimen Point Hut (
Click here
)
A
Croesus Knob (
Click here
)
