10 Best Things to Do on the West Coast

The Denniston Mine Experience

One of a kind in the world, up on the steep and historically renowned Denniston plateau. A miniature train that takes you into a coal mine under ‘union rules’ where you work as a miner and get to experience for yourself the various miners’ jobs. A holographic movie in the old miners’ hall inside the mine leaves you with a real feel for how these pioneers lived and worked.

Blackwater Rafting with NorWest Adventures, Charleston

For the adventurous at heart, this is a true adventure experience – tubing through caves along an underground river – not for the squeamish! One you will not forget in a hurry.

Drive the Great Coast Rd between Westport & Greymouth

Lonely Planet calls it ‘one of the top 10 coastal drives in the world’ and we just use it to get around. Scenery like this is our best kept secret but it’s time to let the world know! Westport to Greymouth takes about an hour but you may take longer as you will want to whip that camera out!

Try a yet to be released craft beer at Monteiths Brewery, Greymouth

Tony, the chief brewer, likes to test out new brews on unsuspecting visitors and locals alike! Book in for a brewery tour and try them for yourself, or partake of the seasonal tapas menu afterwards in one of the country’s oldest surviving breweries.

Tranz Alpine Rail Journey between Christchurch and Greymouth

We don’t like to blow our own horn much, however this is often touted as one of the world’s top 6 train journeys! If you haven’t done it yet come and see what all the fuss is about. New panoramic carriages increase the viewing pleasure as you climb through West Coast rainforest and the Southern Alps into the braided river valleys and Canterbury plains.

West Coast Treetop Walk, Hokitika

Walk among native giants at the newest West Coast attraction – 20 metres up from the forest floor! With the Southern Alps as a back drop, and overlooking Lake Mahinapua if you climb the Hokitika Tower up to 40 metres you will see out to the Tasman Sea. Spectacular scenery and surprising tame birdlife await at the first treetop walk in New Zealand.

Walk the start of the Heaphy Track in Karamea

The 1 hour walk at the start of the Heaphy Track, Karamea side, makes for an easy wonderful morning or afternoon meander among lush, untouched semi tropical coastal forest.

Curly Tree Whitebait Company, Haast

What visit to the West Coast is complete without a feed of West Coast whitebait? Tony & Moana will sort you out – by the banks of the local river where the whitebait do run, just before Haast on your way down from Fox Glacier, stop and have a yarn at their custom made shed as they whip you up a fresh whitebait sandwich with a slice of lemon. Heaven!

Glacier Landing & Ice Walk, Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers

There is nothing, repeat nothing, as amazing as your first glacier landing. With glaciers so close to the sea, ringed by West Coast rainforest and the surrounding Southern Alps, you will be astounded. Follow that up with a walk into the glacier itself, an ice cave where you will see blue as you’ve never seen it before, nor will again!

Greenstone Helicopters over the Cascade Plateau, Haast

A scenic flight and geology lesson all in one, you’ll see the awesome force of Mother Nature as glaciers from eons ago retreated back to form the Southern Alps and Cascade Plateau of today. Ask the pilot to fly low over the massive greenstone boulders dotted over the landscape and check out Gorge River, location of the world’s most remote family.