West Coast Region

West Coast Region essentials

The West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island is defined by the dramatic Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea. This region contains the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, which descend from high peaks into temperate rainforests. Key natural landmarks include the limestone Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki, the turquoise waters of Hokitika Gorge, and the reflective surface of Lake Matheson. Visitors can explore gold-mining history at Shantytown Heritage Park or observe fur seal colonies at Cape Foulwind, all connected by the scenic Haast and Arthur's mountain passes.

West Coast Region Essentials — Map

Pseudopanax / Public domain

A

Franz Josef Glacier / Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere Viewpoint

Offers views of the 12-kilometer-long maritime glacier. The Māori name, Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere, refers to a local legend of a grieving woman whose tears froze to form the ice.

B

Pancake Rocks and Blowholes

Do you have a sweet tooth? Do you like pancakes?

Pseudopanax / Public domain

C

Hokitika Gorge

Features vivid turquoise water caused by suspended glacial flour. A walking track leads through podocarp forest to a swing bridge overlooking the Hokitika River canyon.

mujtaba / CC BY 2.0

D

Mount Cook

Aoraki / Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. Its height, as of 2014, is listed as 3,724 metres.

Tom-Niklas Brüning / CC-BY-SA

E

Lake Matheson

Lake Matheson is a small glacial lake in South Westland, New Zealand, near the township of Fox Glacier.

F

Limestone Arch

The largest natural limestone arch in the Southern Hemisphere, measuring 219 meters long and 43 meters high, located within the Kahurangi National Park.

Pseudopanax / Public domain

G

Fox Glacier Lookout

Provides elevated views of the Fox Glacier as it moves from the Southern Alps toward the coast. The glacier is one of the most accessible in the world.

William M. Connolley / CC-BY-SA-3.0

H

Haast Pass

Haast Pass / Tioripatea is a mountain pass in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand.

Michal Klajban / CC BY-SA 4.0

I

Seal Colony

A year-round breeding colony of New Zealand fur seals located at Cape Foulwind. Managed viewing platforms allow for safe observation of the seals and their pups.

J

Glowworm Dell

A free, roadside grotto in Hokitika where bioluminescent glowworms are visible on the mossy banks. The site is best visited after sunset for maximum visibility.

K

Shantytown Heritage Park

A reconstructed 1860s gold-rush town featuring over 30 historic buildings, a functional steam train, and opportunities for traditional gold panning.

L

Thunder Creek Waterfall

A 28-meter-high waterfall that plunges into the Haast River. It is reached via a short, wheelchair-accessible path through silver beech forest.

Ville Miettinen / CC BY 2.0

M

Arthur's Pass

Arthur's Pass, a mountain pass in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, marks part of the boundary between the West Coast…

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