In this page, you will find informations and advices we can give, based on our experience
West Coast of the South Island - South Island
The west coast is a narrow strip of land wedged between the Tasman Sea to the west and the Southern Alps to the east. This configuration gives rise to a highly diversified landscape, where in no time at all you can go from a beach to glaciers, from a gorge of incredible colors to a dense forest of magnificent trees, from a waterfall in a green setting to a pile of rocks. There's something for everyone.
Hokitika
2 km one way - 30 min
1 hour
Free
Hokitika, is the city of pounamu, jade sold as jewelry. Take a stroll through town and you'll discover a pretty clock in the middle of a roundabout, the beach with the Drifwood Sign (Hokitika written with tree branches) and finally a shipwreck reconstruction, the Shipwreck Memorial, paying tribute to sailors lost at sea.
But the highlight of this part of the coast is clearly Hokitika Gorge. After a few steps into the forest and crossing a suspension bridge, the turquoise blue of the river water provokes a wow of surprise at the incredible color. It's really beautiful. A few more steps and the trail descends to a small beach frequented... by the dreaded sand flies. And that's the only downside to this wonderful place.
The trail continues beyond the beach. It passes over a second suspension bridge to form a loop. At the time of our trip in 2023, this second bridge was closed.
Access: Hokitika is on route 6. The gorge is a 30-minute drive away. Follow the signs to the parking lot.
Cape Foulwind
350 m one way - 5 min and 400 m ane way - 5 min
1 hour
Free
Cape Foulwind is home to a small white lighthouse with a red door. But access is limited, as the lighthouse is surrounded by vegetation.
A little further on is Tauranga Bay and its colony of sea lions. The footpath runs along the coast and overhangs rocks where sea lions rest.
Access: from Route 67, take 67A westwards, following signs to Cape Foulwind. For Tauranga Bay, follow Tauranga Bay Road south, then Sea Colony Road, and park in the parking lot.
Pancakes Rocks
Loop of 1km - 15 min
1 hour
Free
Pancakes Rocks is one of New Zealand's most surprising places. As the name suggests, these rocks look like piles of pancakes. The water rushes past the foot of these cliffs with an impressive crash. Terns and gulls nest on these rocks.
For photos, the best time is in the morning for the rocks on the south-western side and in the evening for the few rocks on the north-eastern side.
Access: next to Punakaiki on Route 6.
Paparoa National Park
3,5km ane way - 45 min
2 hours
Free
Paparoa National Park is like the forests of Jurrasic Park!
Several hikes are possible. For our part, we followed the Pororari River Track to a bridge before turning back. It was a 7 km round trip. The track follows the golden Porarari River. There are some nice viewpoints, but they are few and far between, as the vegetation is very dense.
Access: on route 6 on the other side of the road from Punakaiki.
Franz Josef Glacier
1 km one way - 15 min
1 hour
Free
New Zealand's famous glaciers are a real disappointment. They're so pitiful, they've retreated so much due to global warming.
At Franz Josef Glacier, we combined the Forest Walk and Sentinel Walk trails to get two viewpoints. The view is nice with the blue sky, but you'd better have a telephoto lens to photograph the glacier.
Access: Franz Josef Glacier is on Route 6. Follow the signs to the parking lot.
Fox Glacier
3,3km one way - 45 min
2 hour
Free
New Zealand's famous glaciers are a real disappointment. They're so pitiful, they've retreated so much due to global warming.
From Fox Glacier, we walk to Glacier Viewpoint via the South Side Walkway, then continue on the River Walk Lookout Track. The views are quite distant. A telephoto lens is useful for photographing the glacier. We return along the same trail, adding Moraine Walk. This one's really cute, with its mossy trees.
Outside the town of Fox Glacier, signs read “Glacier viewpoint 10 km”. You can see the glacier with a red farmhouse in a meadow in the foreground.
Access: Fox Glacier is on Route 6. Follow the signs to the parking lot.
Lodging
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Copyright Magali and David BELLEC