Discovering the West Coast: An Epic New Zealand Road Trip

Updated: 25th January, 2024

Driving down the length of the West Coast is, without a doubt, one of the best road trips in the South Island of New Zealand! This road trip takes anywhere from a couple of days to a week to explore and takes you through some of the wild and incredible scenery the West Coast is known for. From lush rainforest, stormy coastline, magnificent glaciers, and dramatic rivers, here is your ultimate guide to your West Coast Road Trip!

Driving along the West Coast Road: Karamea to Jackson Bay

So you are looking at exploring the West Coast on a classic kiwi road trip? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Driving down the West Coast of New Zealand was one of my first-ever adventures in a van, and it was just incredible! The road winds its way down the coastline, with ever-changing landscape and stunning views around every corner (or so it felt!), so I’m excited to share my knowledge on the best stops along the West Coast!

State Highway 6

Most of this road trip takes you along State Highway 6, which is probably one of the best roads in New Zealand! It begins in the Marlborough Region, just outside of Blenheim, and heads through Nelson-Tasman before emerging at the West Coast near Westport. The highway follows the coastline, past popular tourist destinations and towns, before heading back inland through the Haast Pass to Queenstown. It’s honestly awesome.

Map of the Drive down the West Coast of New Zealand

This route is filled with wonderful places to stop and explore, and I highly recommend taking around 4-5 days to explore this route properly!

Best Stops along the West Coast Road Trip!

1. Karamea

Right at the top of the West Coast of New Zealand (as far as you can go!) is our hypothetical starting point for this West Coast Road Trip! The small town of Karamea is a little off the beaten track, but it is surrounded by some spectacular forest and natural attractions, so if you have the time I highly recommend visiting!

Karamea is known as the gateway to the incredible Kahurangi National Park, which is the second largest national park in New Zealand, stretching from the wild West Coast to the sunny bays of the Nelson-Tasman region! This park is a hiker’s paradise, with dense forest, rushing rivers, alpine tussock and rugged coastline just waiting to be explored. This national park is known for being the home of the Heaphy Track (one of New Zealand’s Great Walks), as well as the magnificent Oparara Arches in the Oparara Basin – which are some incredible limestone rock formations hidden deep in the bush.

Things to Do in Karamea

Karamea is a great place to stay and explore these fantastic natural attractions, and I would recommend at least 1 or 2 days to make the most out of this stunning area!

2. See the NZ Fur Seals at Cape Foulwind

So now you’re off! Your first stop on the West Coast Road Trip is to visit Cape Foulwind and see the seals! Cape Foulwind is a wild cape just outside of Westport and is a hidden gem of the West Coast, and is must nicer than its name suggests. It was named as such by Captain Cook, was his boat was blown off course due to strong winds – not because it was smelly!

Cape Foulwind Walkway

From the Cape Foulwind carpark, you can explore the beautiful walking trails that follow the coastline, giving you incredible views over the Tasman Sea and rugged rocky coast, before arriving at the viewpoint of the Seal Colony in Tauranga Bay! This is considered one of New Zealand’s best short walks, and is a perfect way to stretch your legs and enjoy some of the fantastic West Coast scenery.

If you are looking for a slightly shorter walk, you can begin at the Tauranga Bay carpark and walk down to the Seal Colony Lookout. This section of the walk will take around 15 minutes, and is perfect for families, as well as being wheelchair accessible!

3. Fox River

With a beach on one side, and a river walk up to magnificent limestone caves on the other, Fox River is the next stop on our West Coast Road Trip itinerary! Nestled at the southern end of Woodpecker Bay is the beautiful Fox River mouth, where the Fox River flows out into the Tasman Sea. Now, this area is pretty quiet, with nothing much more than a freedom campsite and a couple of baches, but it is a pretty spectacular place to get out and soak up the scenery!

Fox River Cave Walk

The Fox River Cave Walk is an amazing half-day hike hidden in the dense forest of the West Coast. This walk is a lot of fun, with river crossings, native bush, and huge limestone caves to explore! It is best to do this walk in the warm summer months, as the trail follows the banks and crosses the Fox River a couple of times as you head towards the caves! After a bit of a scramble up the bank, you will reach the entrance of the caves, which extend around 200 meters into the hillside. Make sure to remember a torch or headlamp, as the inside of these caves is pretty dark, but loads of fun to explore!

4. Irimahuwhero Lookout

The Irimahuwhero Lookout is perfect for a short stop on your West Coast road trip – spectacular views over the wild Tasman Sea and coastline, surrounded by rainforest, and with a platform that is ideally located for a photograph or two – what more could you want!

5. Check Out the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki

Welcome to Punakaiki! If this is your first time experiencing the magic of the West Coast, then Punakaiki should be top of your road trip bucket list! Punakaiki is filled with incredible natural attractions, with the most famous being the iconic Pancake Rocks and Blowholes along the coastline. Although these are quite touristy (and can be very busy during summer!) they are definitely worth the hype!

Things to Do in Punakaiki

If you have a day or two to explore Punakaiki, this quiet coastal town is a perfect West Coast getaway. It is well-developed for tourists, with some fantastic hotels, cafes, and restaurants dotted along the coastline.

Where to Stay in Punakaiki

6. Motukiekie Beach Walk

This spectacular beach is probably one of the best-kept secrets on the West Coast of New Zealand. Motukiekie Beach is known for its incredible Seastack rock formations that rise out of the water, and is a photographer’s dream! However, this beach is only accessible at low tide, so it’s best to plan ahead if you want to make the most out of this stop on your West Coast road trip.

How to Access Motukiekie Beach

From what I have seen, this coordinate seems to be the easiest way to access the beach without doing a bit of rock climbing! It is a slightly longer walk down to see the incredible rock formations (around half an hour), but the walk is easy over hard sand. Just remember to plan your trip so you are back to the car before the tide comes in!

7. 10 Mile Creek Lookout

The next lookout is only a few minutes from Motukiekie Beach, and I am GUTTED to not have any photos of this amazing view! As you travel southbound along the Coast Road, the road swerves inland and follows the banks of 10 Mile Creek, before crossing over the bridge and up the other side. The views along this road are worth stopping for, and there are several gravel shoulders along the highway where you can pull over and take in the scenery!

8. Greymouth

Greymouth is the largest town on the West Coast, and a fantastic place to stop if you are interested in learning about the fascinating history of this region! It is also a perfect place to spend a night on your road trip, with lots of accommodation options, awesome cafes and restaurants, and the famous (in New Zealand) Monteith’s Brewery – the home of craft beer. How good!

9. Hokitika

Okay so Hokitika is one of my favourite towns on the West Coast of New Zealand, and I would definitely plan on spending a day or two here to explore! It is a small coastal town with a thriving center – filled with cafes, art galleries, restaurants, and boutique shops. It is very compact and you can reach everything within walking distance from your accommodation, which is perfect after spending hours in the car!

Things to Do in Hokitika

If you do fancy a little drive, the best thing to do in Hokitika is to visit the stunning Hokitika Gorge! This beautiful gorge is located around 30 minutes from town and is reached via a short walk through some lush native rainforest. This was one of my highlights while visiting the West Coast!

Where to Stay in Hokitika

If you are planning on taking a few days to enjoy this West Coast road trip, then Hokitika is a great place to stop and spend the night! As well as having some excellent cafes and restaurants, it has a good selection of accommodation options, from comfortable and budget-friendly accommodation to luxurious hotels. Check them out here!

10. Franz Josef

One of the best stops on the West Coast road trip is to see one of the famous glaciers! These magnificent frozen rivers of ice are just spectacular to witness, and definitely should be on your South Island bucket list! There are two famous glaciers on the West Coast of New Zealand – the Franz Josef Glacier and the Fox Glacier, and the best news is, they are only 25 minutes apart!

Franz Josef is the 4th largest glacier in New Zealand and is spectacular to witness. It is very steep, descending from a height of over 3,000 meters to just 240 m above sea level – which leads to dramatic ice formations, crevasses, and ice caves in the glacier surface – so you are more likely to see the famous blue ice.

There are many ways to experience the Franz Josef Glacier! If you are looking for a memorable experience, you can embark on a heli hike, where you are taken up to the surface of the glacier via a thrilling helicopter journey, before exploring the spectacular glacier with a knowledgeable guide. This is the best way to experience the glacier up-close, as you cannot reach the glacier any other way!

Franz Josef Glacier Walkway

If you are traveling on a budget but still want to experience the magic of Franz Josef Glacier, never fear! There is a short walk near the township that takes you to an incredible viewpoint of the glacier. The walk begins at the Franz Josef Glacier car park, and winds through the beautiful rainforest in the valley, with views over the mountains and the top of the glacier. After a short uphill section, you arrive at the viewpoint, with panoramic views over the glacier and the stunning Waiho Valley, with the river winding its way towards the coast.

Where to Stay Near the Glaciers

If you want to spend the night in ‘Glacier Country’, I would recommend staying in the Franz Josef township, as has a lot more to offer than the quieter Fox Glacier! Franz Josef has a thriving township, with several shops, cafes, and restaurants to explore during your stay.

11. Fox Glacier

Only a short 30-minute drive south of Franz Josef along the West Coast road is Fox Glacier! This town is a lot quieter than its neighbour, and is awesome to visit during the peak tourist months.

Fox Glacier Valley Walk

If you are looking for the best way to view the stunning Fox Glacier, then this is it! This half-day walk takes you up Fox Valley and through native podocarp forest, before treating you to views over the magnificent Fox Glacier. As you walk, the track crosses ancient glacial moraine surfaces, where the glacier has pushed stone and debris as it retreated. You first viewpoint over to the Fox Glacier is around 40 minutes into the walk, with another awesome lookout at the end!

Lake Matheson

Close to Fox Glacier is Lake Matherson, a beautiful lake famous for its reflections of the surrounding mountains. This place is one of the highlights of Fox Glacier, and worth a visit! From town, head down Cook Flat Road, before turning right onto Lake Matheson Road. There is a carpark, and a walking trail that loops around the lake – giving you stunning views over the surrounding scenery! This is a fantastic spot for photographers and hikers and takes around an hour and a half to complete.

12. Gillespies Beach

Gillespies Beach is one of the hidden gems of the West Coast. A stunning and secluded beach just a short drive from Fox Glacier, this is the kind of beach travellers dream of! From the beach, you can see spectacular views over the snow-capped Southern Alps, and watch the vibrant West Coast sunset over the Tasman Sea. There are several short walks around Gillespies Beach, as well as a rustic DOC campsite – so if you’re travelling in a van, this is a perfect place to stay the night! It is very quiet, with no shops or houses nearby, making it feel as if you have the whole beach to yourself.

Note: Although beautiful, this beach is known to have lots of sandflies! Just remember to bring long clothing and insect repellant if you want to spend the night!

13. Copland Track Hike to Welcome Hut

The Copland Track Hike to Welcome Flat is one of my all-time favourites in New Zealand! Winding through the bush along the banks of the icy, turquoise Copland River, you get some of the most incredible views over the valley and surrounding mountains, before arriving at a hut with natural hot springs high in the mountains! What could be better?

This walk takes around 6-8 hours to reach Welcome Flat, so is best done as an overnight hike! This also gives you plenty of time to enjoy the scenery, as well as take a (much-deserved) dip in the natural hot springs that are just beside the hut!

14. Haast

Haast is one of the southernmost towns on the West Coast, and a great place to finish your West Coast road trip! The township is nestled along the stunning Haast River and has a couple of hotels and backpackers where you can stop for the night.

Haast Pass

Although Haast is small, it is famous for being the gateway to the incredible Haast Pass – the next best road trip in the South Island of New Zealand! Haast Pass is a stunning mountain pass that connects the wild and wind-swept West Coast to the bustling, lake-side town of Wanaka in Otago, and is filled with waterfalls, lush rainforest, native birds, and glorious views of the Southern Alps! What’s not to love!? If you have the time, and would like to see more of the South Island, I would highly recommend driving through the Haast Pass as the next epic adventure on your New Zealand road trip!

Highlights of Haast Pass

15. Jackson Bay Pier

This is a little bonus stop on your West Coast road trip! Jackson Bay is the very southern point that you can drive to along the West Coast and backs onto Mount Aspiring National Park. This bay is very quiet and secluded, but absolutely beautiful to visit! It is a little way off the beaten track and is worth a visit if you have a few hours to spare.

From Haast, the road follows the coastline around Jackson Bay, winding through the forest, before arriving at the southern end of the bay. Here you will see the Jackson Bay Pier, which is a very popular spot for locals to fish! We spent a few hours here, fossicking around the rocks on the beach and attempting to catch some tea, before heading back to Haast. During the summer months, you can visit The Craypot – a fantastic local restaurant serving up fresh fish and chips and other yummy seafood, which you can eat while looking out over the bay! Bliss!

Know Before You Go: Driving Along the West Coast

What is the Best Time to Road Trip down the West Coast of New Zealand?

The best time to embark on a West Coast Road Trip is during the summer and early autumn (January – March), when you will be able to make the most out of the sunny, warm weather and the lowest average rainfall! The weather along the West Coast is mild throughout the year, meaning that it does not get extreme hot or cold temperatures – but do expect some rain!

Other Ways to Travel the West Coast of New Zealand

Public Transport

If you are not planning on driving while in New Zealand, you can still explore this stunning region. The Intercity bus service runs regular bus services throughout the South Island of New Zealand, including along the West Coast. If you want to still experience this incredible road trip, you can – luckily there are stops near the most popular tourist attractions.

Related Posts:

Driving through the Catlins: Your South Island Road Trip

Harriet Kingston-Smith

March 7, 2024

Christchurch to Akaroa: Driving through Banks Peninsula

Harriet Kingston-Smith

January 30, 2024

Picton to Nelson: Road Trip Around The Sounds

Harriet Kingston-Smith

January 22, 2024