Northern West Coast
At a glance … a wild and pristine paradise bursting with remarkable scenery and wildlife.
Need to know ...The West Coast is a lush, green region of rainforest, wild beaches and fascinating history. Main Centres Greymouth – main commercial centre. Getting There By Air – Westport Airport (10 minutes from town)
serviced by Air New Zealand Link, Greymouth Airport (10 minutes from town)
serviced by West Coast Air and Hokitika Airport (5 minutes from town)
serviced by Air New Zealand Link, provide domestic air links.
Getting AroundA number of rental car companies operate in the West Coast. Take a scenic flight by airplane or helicopter to get a unique perspective. |
ActionExperience glacier climbing on the world’s most accessible glaciers RelaxationSavour a beer with the locals in a cosy West Coast pub WildlifeTake a tour to the spell-binding Okarito White Heron Colony TasteEnjoy the local specialty – Whitebait Fritters CultureHike to one of the West Coast’s abandoned gold rush settlements |
Eating Out
Exclusive
The Bay House Café & Restaurant (41 Beach Rd,
Tauranga Bay, Westport, t +64 3 789 7133) – breathtaking bay views and
superb Aotearoa cuisine.
Stations Inn (Blue Spur Rd, Hokitika, t 0508 782 846) –
brand-new boutique restaurant and bar set on an elevated terrace overlooking
the Tasman Sea.
Casual
Revingtons Hotel (47 Tainui St, Greymouth, t +64 3 768 7055)
– licensed, serving breakfast and dinner daily.
Jack’s Gasthof: Pizzeria and Bar (23km south of Westport,
SH6, Little Totara River, t +64 3 789 6501) – on the banks of the Little
Totara River, serving coffee, pizza and other meals.
Denniston Dog Saloon (18 Wakefield St, Westport, t +64 3 789
5030) – very popular, offering superb local cuisine and great views of
the Denniston Incline.
Tasman View Restaurant (Beachfront Hotel, 111 Revell St, Hokitika,
t +64 3 755 8344) – award-winning restaurant featuring great views and
delicious cuisine made from local produce.
Trappers Restaurant (131 – 137 Revell St, Hokitika, t
+64 3 755 6859) – wild food restaurant specialising in exotic fare. Dine
outside in summer or relax by the fire.
Where to Drink
Stylish bar
Stations Inn (Blue Spur Rd, Hokitika, t 0508 782 846) – brand-new boutique restaurant and bar set on an elevated terrace overlooking the Tasman Sea.
Cosy pub
Formerly The Blackball Hilton (26 Hart St, Blackball, t +64
3 732 4705) – cosy historic pub with garden bar.
Danny Doolan’s Irish Bar & Revy’s Sports Bar
(Revingtons Hotel, 47 Tainui St, Greymouth, t +64 3 768 7055) – sports
bar features wide-screen TV.
Paroa Hotel / Motel (508 Main South Rd, Paroa, Greymouth, t
+64 3 762 6860) – Lonely Planet says: “You can’t beat the
Paroa Pub for genuine West Coast hospitality.” Punakaiki Tavern (Cnr SH6
& Owen St, Punakaiki) – 1km north of the Pancake Rocks: SKY TV and
meals.
Steamers (Cnr Mackay St & Albert Mall, Greymouth, t +64
3 768 4193) – warm comfortable décor in one of Greymouth’s
heritage buildings.
Coffee fix
Café 124 on Mackey (124 Mackay St,
Greymouth, t +64 3 768 7503) – for relaxed indoor/outdoor dining.
Wild Coast Café (Main Rd, Punakaiki, t +64 3 731 1873)
– Internet café famous for pancakes, as well as coffee and ice-creams.
Jade Boulder Café (1 Guinness St, Greymouth, t +64 3
768 0700) – serving the West Coast’s most famous delicacy, whitebait,
plus full wild food menu.
dp:one Café (108 Mawhera Quay, Greymouth, t +64 3 768
4005) – Internet access, healthy food and great coffee.
The Smelting House Café (102 Mackay St, Greymouth, t
+64 3 768 0012) – delicious home-style food and aromatic coffee prepared
with care.
Café de Paris (19 Tancred St, Hokitika, t +64 3 755
8433) – from a humble cappuccino to full à la carte. French cuisine
with a kiwi accent.
Something to Take Home
Bonz & Stonz (16 Hamilton St, Hokitika, t +64 3 755 6504)
– jade, bone, paua or mother of pearl designed and carved on-site. Carve
your own pendant.
Ianzart Ltd (32 Revell St, Hokitika, t +64 3 755 6336) –
handcrafted copper art.
Hector Pottery Gallery (116 Palmerston St, Westport, t +64
3 782 8107) – fine handmade tableware, sculpture, works on paper.
Punakaiki Crafts (SH6, Punakaiki, t +64 3 731 1813) –
bone, jade and wood carving. Ceramics, textiles, jewellery, glass, wearable
art.
Jade Boulder Gallery (1 Guinness St, Greymouth, t +64 3 768
0700) – jade sculptures and jewellery.
Left Bank Art Gallery (Cnr Tainui St & Mawhera Quay, Greymouth,
t +64 3 768 0038) – local and national exhibitions.
Shades of Jade (16 Tainui St, Greymouth, t +64 3 768 0794)
– jade carvings and jewellery.
West Coast Rubyrock. Stewart Nimmo Gallery & Gifts (27
Mackay St, Greymouth, t +64 3 768 0794) – photography, wood, paua, bone,
gold and souvenirs.
Hokitika Glass Studio (28 Tancred St, Hokitika, t +64 3 755
7775) – handcrafted glassware.
Jade Factory Hokitika (41 Weld St, Hokitika, t +64 3 755 8007)
– jade carvings, sculptures.
Just Jade Experience (197 Revell St, Hokitika, t +64 3 755
7612) – experience working in a jade studio.
The Gold Room (37 Tancred St, Hokitika, t +64 3 755 8362) –
jewellery crafted from natural gold nuggets. tp Goldsmith (81 Revell St, Hokitika,
t +64 3 755 6588) – jewellery designed on-site.
Did you know?
Notable Culture
The West Coast is New Zealand’s only source of pounamu (greenstone or jade). According to Maori legend, pounamu is the remains of a fearsome taniwha (water monster) killed in pursuit of the explorer Ngahue.
Moment in History
Hokitika was the heart of the West Coast Gold Rush of the 1860s. In 1867 the town had a population of just over 4,500, making it the sixth largest town in New Zealand at the time.
Note This!
In August 1888 Reefton became the first town in the Southern Hemisphere to have electric street lighting.
Websites to Check Out
www.west-coast.co.nz
West Coast Travel Information