The West Coast of the South Island is wild! Surrounded by huge mountains on one side and ocean the other, this whole area is packed with incredible experiences, crafted by the heavy rain this area is famous for. If you get lucky, the skies will clear and gift you some of the best views in the whole of New Zealand.
Quick Summary
Top Tip: Make sure you get up for a sunrise at the magnificent Lake Matheson. Ideally you’ll want 2m/s wind (or less) to get that perfect reflection.
When to go: Surprisingly, the winter has the most stable weather on the west coast. Some of the hiking trails may be under snow, but it is your best chance of having weather clear enough to see the mountains and heli-hike the glaciers. Whilst it can rain heavily all year, the summer tends to be worse than the winter.
Peak Season: December - April
Off Season: June - September
Best things to do in the West Coast
Franz Josef
Lake Gault is a spectacular lake offering sublime views of Aoraki Mount Cook and the surrounding mountain range. In the right conditions it provides a perfect mirror image in the water. We’re sharing everything you need to know about the walk to get there, plus the conditions you need to get that crystal clear reflection.
The view from the top of the Okarito Trig Walk is sensational. Not only do you get to see a vast mountain panorama, including Mount Cook and Franz Josef Glacier, you also see three beaches and the beautiful lagoon. We’re sharing tips for the trail including difficulty and track conditions.
Franz Josef is one of New Zealand’s dream destinations. The scenery is incredibly dramatic and there is much more on offer here than just the glacier alone. We’re sharing all the best things to do in Franz Josef, from an electric blue gorge, to epic swing bridges, magical glow worm colonies, glacier hiking, hot springs and more.
If you’re looking at taking on one of Franz Josef’s best hikes, you’re probably weighing up Alex Knob and Roberts Point. We’re comparing both trails based on scenery, difficulty, track conditions and more to help you choose which is the best hike for you.
The Roberts Point Track is one of the best hikes on the West Coast. The view of Franz Josef Glacier is phenomenal and there are several amazing swing bridges, and even a floating staircase. It does involve some scrambling and we detail that as well as everything else you need to know about difficulty and the terrain in this guide.
Lake Matheson is one of the most beautiful lakes in New Zealand. Time it right and you will be treated to a mirror image of Aoraki Mount Cook and the surrounding snow-capped peaks in the water. However, not all viewpoints are created equal and the reflection doesn’t always look like the pictures. We’re sharing everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip to Lake Matheson.
The Alex Knob Track offers one of the best views of Franz Josef Glacier in the whole area, not to mention the incredible mountain range surrounding it. You have to earn the view though with a relatively long hike up to the viewpoint. We’re sharing everything you need to know, including difficulty and track conditions, as well as shorter options which still have great views.
The Galway Beach Track has a bit of everything; wild and remote beaches, sensational mountain views, gorgeous forest and a bit of gold mining history too. It’s an easy walk and not very well known so you’ll likely get it all to yourself, but this being the West Coast you’ll find the track can get a bit muddy. We’re sharing everything you need to know about the walk.
Callery Gorge is spectacular, with electric blue water that has to be seen to be believed. It’s an easy walk to reach, yet it still remains relatively unknown. It’s one walk in Franz Josef you do not want to miss! We’re sharing everything you need to know about the walk, including un-signposted viewpoints.
The Tatare Tunnels Walk is a lot of fun. You can explore the old mining tunnel which is also home to one of Franz’s Josefs glow worm colonies! The trail is easy and takes you through a beautiful stretch of forest. We’re sharing everything you need to know about the walk.
The Minnehaha Walk is one of Fox Glacier’s must do’s, by day and by night! By day you’ll enter a glorious mossy forest which feels like it’s straight from a fairytale. By night, it’s home to a magical glow worm colony. We’re sharing exactly what to expect, including how to find the glow worms.
Greymouth & Punakaiki
There are so many amazing things to do in Greymouth which most people have never heard of! Spend a few days here and you’ll find waterfalls you can swim under, old gold mining tunnels to explore, a secret glow worm colony, spectacular canyon, gorgeous wild and rugged coastline, and lots more!
Cave Creek is a beautiful spot, full of giant mossy boulders and an incredibly atmospheric cave entrance. It looks like something out of a fairytale. We’re sharing everything you need to know about the walk including difficulty and logistics.
Coal Creek Falls is a gorgeous little waterfall and swimming hole close to Greymouth. The walk to get there is easy and through beautiful forest. We’re sharing everything you need to know about the trail as well as what it’s like to swim at the base of the falls.
Punakaiki Cavern is a fantastic limestone cave you can explore without a guide. You can venture through the dark depths of the cave, whilst listening to the wild waves crashing against the rocks nearby. Come back at night and you’ll find it’s a whole new world, illuminated by the light of hundreds of tiny glow worms! We’re sharing everything you need to know about visiting the cave, by day and by night.
Haast
Monro Beach is spectacular and is reached via a short easy walk through beautiful dense rainforest. When you arrive you’ll find a glorious beach with picturesque sea stacks and hopefully some rare tawaki penguins too. We’re sharing everything you need to know about the walk and all our tips for spotting the adorable Fiordland crested penguins.
![The 12 Most Incredible Stops along the Haast Pass [with distances]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/596b2969d2b85786e6892853/1640429920898-ZEPO9U3GM211F9HAP2VA/6D2A9565.jpg)
The Haast Pass winds its way between Wanaka and Haast on one of the most spectacular stretches of road in New Zealand. There are so many stops you can make along the way; from turquoise waterfalls, to canyons, wild coastline and even some glacial blue pools. We’re sharing all the unmissable stops, including those that are not signposted.
The Blue Pools are utterly spectacular and worthy of their increasing fame and popularity. However, there are a lot of things worth knowing beforehand in order to make sure you have the perfect trip. We’re sharing how weather conditions and time of day affect the water colour, photography tips, how to beat the crowds, and what it’s really like to swim in the glacial water!
Most people driving the Haast Pass will stop at the picturesque Fantail Falls, but few know there is an even more spectacular waterfall just around the corner. This one has no path and you need the right conditions to visit safely, but when you get there it’s a truly magical spot. We’re sharing how to find it and exactly what to expect along the way.
Wilson Creek Canyon is utterly spectacular, with towering walls that loom over you and stunning turquoise water. Although you can only visit a tiny portion of the canyon if you don’t have canyoning experience or a guide, it is still an incredible place to see. We’re sharing how to find it and what to expect when you do.
Hokitika
Hokitika is best known for its stunning gorge, but what if we were to tell you that there’s so much more to it than that? Stay a little longer and you’ll find stunning lakes with mountain backdrops, a gorgeous waterfall, several incredible glow worm dells and even a secret gorge with the same blue water as Hokitika Gorge, but none of the crowds!
The Hokitika glow worm dell is magical and the best glow worm display we’ve seen outside of a cave environment. However, there are a few drawbacks which we’ll help you mitigate with out tips. We’re also sharing two secret dells nearby if you prefer hidden spots.
We’re sharing how to plan the perfect trip to Hokitika Gorge, including what to watch out for if you want to see the blue water, how to photograph it and everything you need to know about the newly extended walking track.
That’s right, there’s a lesser known gorge close to Hokitika which offers the most incredible blue water, an exciting vertigo inducing swing bridge and a safe swimming hole. Best of all you won’t have to share it with the crowds! We’re detailing exactly how to get there, including everything you need to know about the trail conditions.
We walked every trail in Franz Josef to bring you this list from first hand experience. You’ll find trails with epic swing bridges, an electric blue water gorge, spectacular glacier views, an amazing glow worm tunnel and even a hidden seal colony!