Six Must-See Places on New Zealand's Wild West Coast

Recently updated on February 7th, 2024 at 04:41 pm

Almost every part of New Zealand has been everything we hoped for. New Zealand’s West Coast was the only place that completely exceeded expectations. It is much quieter than Queenstown and larger cities in the east. It was four full days of adventure, and it left us wanting so much more time.

This part of New Zealand’s South Island is harder to reach, but that also means that you’ll have more adventures that aren’t packed with other tourists. I would recommend adding this to your South Island itinerary however you can.

You have to keep an eye on your gas gauge to make sure you can make it to the next gas station. You will get very little cell service or decent WiFi. It’s the perfect place to get yourself off the grid for a while and just take in the beautiful scenery.

We are sharing the places that we found and loved, but there is so much to see. All you need is a few days to let yourself explore.

Our 6 Favorites on New Zealand’s West Coast

These spots were our favorites on New Zealand’s West Coast. The crashing waves, stunning glaciers, and beautiful landscapes will be forever engrained in our memories. This was what we dreamed of when we planned our time in this incredible country.

Wanaka

This town isn’t technically on New Zealand’s West Coast, but it is a good starting spot before heading along the Haast Pass. We wish we would have stayed here for at least a night.

The city, with a population of about 8,000, sits right on the shores of Lake Wanaka. Mountains surround this city, offering tons of trails and gorgeous views. There are tons of restaurant options. We ate lunch at Amigos, and they had amazing Cauliflower tacos.

Also, there’s the tree. We went. It wasn’t great. But we took a picture anyways. #thatwanakatree #forthegram

Haast Pass & The Town of Haast

The Haast Pass is one of the three passes through the Southern Alps. It is the furthest south. The drive goes alongside Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka before curving through the mountains. There are lots of pull-offs for waterfalls and short hikes. You can also access this road’s more famous walks and longer tramps. We stopped at Fantail Falls and Thunder Creek Falls on our way to Haast.

We stayed in Haast for a few nights and ate at both restaurants in town. The Voyageur had a bigger menu than the Bad Antler, but both were good.

Monro Beach Walk was a highlight of our time in Haast. The walk through the forest is gorgeous, and you end up on a small beach. There were very few people, and we had the beach to ourselves. It was amazing.

Glacier Territory

Many people visit the Fox Glacier and the Franz Josef Glacier each year. It’s the only place we saw the tour buses. Both were closed to visitors while we were there. If you really want to see the glaciers, make sure to research them before you go. There are other ways to see them, but nothing that fit into our budget.

Even without taking a helicopter to the top, there is a lot to do in this region. There are other great hikes and the West Coast Wildlife center. This part of the drive gives you some amazing views of snowcapped mountains and lush rainforests.

Hokitika

This small beach town is a great place to stop and stretch your legs. There are some good surf spots in this region, and there are also good restaurant options. We enjoyed our lunch at Fat Pipi Pizza. The Punk Pizza has roasted pumpkin, pesto, cashews, and feta cheese. Their combos were funky, and they all looked great. Justin dedicated an entire section of our month 1 recap to that pizza.

About 25 minutes from the main highway, you will find the Hokitika Gorge. It’s a short walk to the suspension bridge. The views are awesome, and the scenery is a little different from the coast.

Punakaiki

This was definitely the highlight for us. The Paparoa National Park has tons of hikes and the famous Pancake Rocks. We were lucky enough to spend a few nights here at an Airbnb on the water, and it was pure magic.

We have both said that we would return here for a longer stay in the future. The waves, the seals, the birds and the amazing limestone cliffs behind you – it’s a wonderful place.

Sunsets

I am definitely more of a sunrise person, but these sunsets over the Tasman Sea had me reconsidering. Wherever you decide to stay, just ensure you can make your way to the water at sunset.

Be careful for the penguins. There are lots of small birds that call this coast home and you need to make sure you are never in their space. It’s imperative that they are protected and you are visitors in their space. If you watch for signs and follow the instructions, you will be just fine.

We would definitely recommend adding this to your South Island itinerary. Just make sure you plot out a few places to sleep so you can take your time. Also, plan for groceries or at least snacks because the stops are further apart than the other regions we’ve visited. They call it “untamed natural wilderness,” and it definitely fits.