West Coast

Gateway

The nearest international gateway is Christchurch International Airport. It is 4 hours, 10 minutes’ drive from Christchurch through Arthur’s Pass to Greymouth.

Unforgettable Events

Kumara Gold Nuggets Race Meeting – January – Kumara
Reefton Rodeo – February – Reefton
Speights Coast to Coast Multi Sport Race – February – Hokitika
Hokitika Wildfoods Festival – March – Hokitika
Reefton Endurance Ride – March – Reefton
Blackball Olde Time Easter Fair – April – Greymouth
Best of the West Country Music Awards – May – Westport
First Light Festival – August – Reefton
Whitebait Season Opens – September – West Coast
Cape Classic Surf Competition – October – Westport
Sausage Festival – November – Blackball
Reefton Summer Festival – December – Reefton

Travelling times

Greymouth to:

• Westport 1 hour, 45 minutes
• Franz Josef 3 hours, 10 minutes
• Haast 5 hours, 40 minutes
• Christchurch 4 hours, 10 minutes
• Queenstown 10 hours, 55 minutes

Westport to:
• Greymouth 1 hour, 45 minutes
• Franz Josef 4 hours, 55 minutes
• Haast 7 hours, 30 minutes
• Christchurch 5 hours, 10 minutes
• Queenstown 12 hours, 30 minutes

Franz Josef to:
• Greymouth 3 hours, 10 minutes
• Westport 4 hours, 55 minutes
• Haast 2 hours, 20 minutes
• Christchurch 6 hours, 25 minutes
• Queenstown 7 hours, 45 minutes

Haast to:
• Greymouth 5 hours, 40 minutes
• Franz Josef 2 hours, 20 minutes
• Westport 7 hours, 30 minutes
• Christchurch 8 hours, 55 minutes
• Queenstown 5 hours, 10 minutes

Action

Experience glacier climbing on the world’s most accessible glaciers

Relaxation

Savour a beer with the locals in a cosy West Coast pub

Wildlife

Take a tour to the spell-binding Okarito White Heron Colony

Taste

Enjoy the local specialty – Whitebait Fritters

Culture

Hike to one of the West Coast’s abandoned gold rush settlements