Regional Overview.

The West Coast

An area of approx 30,000 sq kilometers with a population of about 30,000 people, of which 4,500 live in Westport, 8,000 in Greymouth and 3,500 in Hokitika, that leaves 14,000 scattered from Karamea to Haast! Much of the coast is still pretty much wilderness and incorporates some or all of the following , Kahurangi National Park, Paparoa National Park, Arthurs Pass National Park, Westland and Mount Cook National Parks. The Southern Alps reach almost to the sea and the arable and habitable part of the region is a thin ribbon of coastal plain and river valleys.

Karamea in the north is a dairy farming community with beaches and rivers, and a temperate climate. The Nikau Palm thrives here because of the warmth and appears along the coast from here south to just past Punakaiki.

Westport has all commercial facilities, a fishing port and the seal breeding colony at Cape Foulwind. Access to the Buller Gorge and many outdoor adventure activities. Traveling south Charleston was once a thriving port for coastal traders and a look at the bay there will make you realise what a treacherous business that was! Punakaiki is the home of the famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes and is the base from which to explore the Paparoa National Park. The Punakaiki River is popular for kayaking and walking with its spectacular cliffs.

Greymouth is the commercial hub of the coast and is the terminus of the Tranz Alpine train trip. The Grey River harbours fishing vessels and is a focal point of the town, the Grey Valley is very productive dairy country and provides access to  the historic township of Reefton which has a rich gold mining history which may be about to be relived. The West Coast is Pounamu country that is to say a source of Greenstone or Nephrite Jade both Greymouth and Hokitika have galleries and studios which produced carved products from this material.

Lake Brunner is situated inland from here and is famous for its trout fishing and home of the internationally known Lake Brunner Lodge. Moana is the populated area of the lakeshore and is popular with boaties.

Hokitika has many craft outlets for Jade, wood products crafted from native timbers, bone, paua, weaving, pottery and painting. It has the last banks and major supermarket, as you head south. It's beach, like most of those on this coast is wild and rugged and consists of gold bearing black sand, strewn about with masses of driftwood and maybe even the odd sliver of greenstone.

Ross is an historic gold mining town and mining continues today, you can look down into the working mine from behind the Information Office. Lakes Ianthe, Wahapo are scenic spots for picnics, just south of Wahapo is the turnoff to Okarito, which was once an historic port is now a peaceful, beachside settlement with a wild beach and a tidal lagoon which attracts native and migratory bird life. Kayaking trips on the lagoon makes the most of the resource.

Lake Mapourika is about 10km north of Franz Josef and is yet another beauty spot. Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier townships are of course the townships servicing the infrastructure for trips to the glaciers. This can be done in many ways, the full hands-on (or feet's-on) experience of a guided walk on the glacier, a freedom walk to the glacier face or a scenic flight to view from above.

South of Fox points of interest are the beach at Bruce Bay, Lakes Paringa and Moeraki. The lookout at Knights Point has some breathtaking views and seals can be spotted on distant beaches. The settlement at Haast township marks the gateway to the Haast Pass, from here you can visit Haast Beach and Jacksons Bay.

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Revised: January 27, 2010