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West Coast Region Travel Information

Image courtesy of Tourism West Coast

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Highlights of West Coast Region

Tauranga Bay Information

n the coastline about 16km south west of Westport, you will find Tauranga Bay and the Cape Foulwind..

Hokitika Information

Hokitika was first settled in 1860, after the discovery of gold on the west coast. It was an..

Fox Glacier Information

Named after Sir William Fox, New Zealand’s Prime Minister from 1869 to 1872, Fox Glacier..

Franz Josef Information

Franz Josef Glacier was first explored in 1865 by geologist Julius von Haast, who named it after..

Moana Information

Situated at the edge of Lake Brunner, Moana is a tiny settlement with a camping ground and a store...

Mount Aspiring National Park Information

Ancient Maori trails followed safe passages through this beautifully rugged and unforgiving..

Karamea Information

Karamea sits at the end of a no-exit highway sandwiched between rainforested hills and the Tasman..

Monro Information

Monro Beach is near Lake Moeraki, it is an easy walk through luxuriant coastal forest to the remote..

Okarito Information

About half an hour’s drive north of Franz Josef is the coastal settlement of Okarito, boasting..

Jackson Bay fishing village Information

South of Haast, the coastline turns westward along a 24 kilometre, gently curving bay to Jackson..

Cape Foulwind Seal Colony Information

A female New Zealand fur seal lives at the same colony all her life. After giving birth in late..

Buller River Information

The Buller River is one of New Zealand's longest and most enigmatic rivers. From it's source at..

Greymouth Information

Once the site of the Maori pa Mawhera (which means ‘wide spread river mouth’, in reference to..

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West Coast Region Information

Spring brings with it the freedom to roam 600km of stunning rugged West Coast scenery. Along its length you’ll find a smorgasbord of activities, a feast of scenic splendour and a banquet of opportunities for exhilarating outdoor adventures or blissful relaxation.

With a population of only 31,000 people, the West Coast retains the feeling of a pioneer frontier. It's a wild place known for rivers and rainforests; glaciers and geological treasures. Legends and stories from the past cling to every feature of the landscape.

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Maori were first to discover the West Coast, seeking sacred pounamu (nephrite jade or greenstone). Gold fever in the 1860s brought Europeans, many of whom stayed on to start farming, forestry and businesses.

The locals are known as 'coasters', a term synonymous with friendliness and hospitality. Isolated from the rest of New Zealand by the Southern Alps, coasters have developed a distinctive culture of their own. Their pioneering values of self-reliance and loyalty are as strong today as they were 100 years ago.

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Highlights of South Island

Queenstown Information

In winter, Queenstown is a bustling ski resort. In summer it's busy with hikers, mountain bikers..

Milford Sound Information

British explorer Captain James Cook steered clear of Milford Sound thinking its entrance too..

Christchurch - Canterbury Information

Float above the plains in a hot air balloon or soak in relaxing thermal pools. Enjoy the excellent..

Fiordland Information

Watch the mountains shake off winter and start to warm up for summer. Waterfalls are invigorated..

Nelson Region Information

At the top of the South Island is an area of sunshine, stunning national parks and beaches..

Dunedin Information

The city of Dunedin was built with the riches of the gold rush, consequently it has one of the best..

Nelson Information

Hardy European pioneers founded the beautiful city of Nelson, New Zealand in 1842, although this..

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