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West Coast, New Zealand
Northern West Coast :: Glacier Country Tours
West Coast, New Zealand – You haven’t experienced New Zealand until you’ve met “a Coaster” and traveled the 600km coastline from Karamea in the north to Jackson Bay in the south. Nestled between the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea “The Coast” is indeed spectacular with its rugged beauty and ever-present past. Gold mining, forests, and coal mining are part and parcel of the history of the West Coast. Explore the enchanting forests, walk along the wild west beaches, and experience firsthand nature’s awesome glaciers.
Experience West Coast Region
- Five of New Zealand’s 13 National Parks
- UNESCO World Heritage Area
- Wild Tasman Sea
- Native red ratas and yellow kowhai
- Whitebait Fritters
You´ll ❤️ these great things to see & do…
- Visit Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & Blowholes
- Have a beer with a Coaster in a local pub
- Go gold panning
- Explore the National Parks
- Get up close to the glaciers on a guided trip – Fox and Franz Josef glaciers
- Rejuvenate in the hot pools at Franz Josef
- Pan for gold at Shantytown
- Watch pounamu (jade) carvers create fine jewellery
- Ty to spot kotuku, the graceful white heron
- Listen to birdsong in a remote rainforest
Useful West Coast, New Zealand Resources
The West Coast of New Zealand is sparsely populated and known for its scenic beauty. It boasts stunning coastlines, mountains, and lush bushes, while the rainforest adds to its natural allure. Heavy rainfall is typical in this region, contributing to the flourishing of the land.
The West Coast is home to various industries, such as coal mining, forestry, wood processing, fishing, farming, and tourism. Dairy farming is a popular industry in New Zealand, while the manufacturing of greenstone jewelry thrives as well. All these industries have contributed to the growth of the regional economy, thereby contributing to the wealth of New Zealand.
Tourists can see rare birds, such as the coasters. The local people are known for their hospitality and friendly approach towards visitors.
The West Coast boasts must-see attractions such as Pancake Rocks and Blowholes for tourists. Pancake rocks are unique for their thin, horizontal layers with varying thickness. In short, the West Coast and its beautiful glaciers creeping into the rainforests play a unique role in the life of New Zealand and its inhabitants.
The Best Tours & Day Trips in the West Coast Region
Listing view
For those with a half-day available this popular trip operating out of Fox Glacier, is a great eco-adventure and full of variety and interest. Walkers are kitted out with sturdy leather boots and other equipment, before boarding one of our buses for the short drive through the rainforest and into the glacial valley. This valley was carved out by the ice during past ice ages and shows dramatic evidence of the power of the ice.
Your guide leads you on a walk beside the river bed to the glacier terminus; from here you will walk uphill for around 30 minutes to access the edge of the ice. At this point you are outfitted with instep crampons specially designed for these ice conditions, and you follow the ice steps cut by th....
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This is an informative and leisurely trip to the dynamic face of the glacier which is suitable for children from 5 years. It is here that the Fox River emerges from the ice and where ice collapses are often heard and seen. This trip is for people with limited time or for those who would find the walks onto the glacier too strenuous. Although you will not walk on the glacier your guide will take you to the final resting place of the ice that has traveled 12 kilometers from the base of the Southern Alps, all the way to the river valley floor.
Your guide may take you closer to the ice than the unguided public (if it is safe to do so at the time) and you will have the opportunity to learn the role of the Fox Glacier in shaping its environment. This two hour trip is reasonably easy going. About one and a half hours is spent walking over gentle terrain, up the left hand side of a river valley floor, at a speed that almost anyone can manage. There....
Read more about Fox Trail Terminal Face Walk
Operating out of Fox Glacier, this is an informative and leisurely trip to the dynamic face of the glacier. It is here that the Fox River emerges from the ice and where ice collapses are often heard and seen. This trip is for people with limited time or for those who would find the walks onto the glacier too strenuous.
Although you will not walk on the glacier your guide will take you to the final resting place of the ice that has travelled 13 kilometres from the base of the Southern Alps, all the way to the river valley floor. Your guide may take you closer to the ice than the unguided public (if it is safe to do....
The Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hike Experience
The Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hike is a once-in-a-lifetime experience not to be missed. Your experienced and highly trained helicopter pilot will whisk you up and over the jaw-dropping landscape. After a thrilling scenic flight, high above ice-falls and rugged terrain, you will land high up on the glacier.
Franz Josef Glacier Scenery
Equipped with glacier boots and crampons your highly trained and friendly guide will take you on a two-hour journey through some of the most pristine and awe-inspiring glacier scenery in the world. Your tour guide will choose your route carefully as you go a....
Nestled in lush rainforest, the Glacier Hot Pools is a haven of natural tranquillity and the perfect way for visitors to unwind and experience a blissful state of pure relaxation after travelling along Te Tai o Poutini (The West Coast) or enjoying one of its many attractions. The Glacier Hot Pools are fed by the waters of Ka Roimata o Hinehukatere, the frozen tears of Hinehukatere for her lost love. According to the legends of Ngai Tahu (the local Maori tribe), these tears of aroha (love) were frozen by the gods, forming what is known worldwide as the Franz Josef Glacier, or to Ngai Tahu as Ka Roimata o Hinehukatere – The Frozen Tears of Hinehukatere. The three invitingly warm main pools and three secluded private pools are nestled within the bosom of Tane Mahuta – Guardian of the Forest with his children, the native bush and birdlife creating a tranquil space to revive your tinana (body), hineng....
The scenic flights from Franz Josef and Fox Glacier locations will take your breath away as you discover that the stunning views of New Zealand's National Parks, glaciers, mountains and lakes are always best from above! The rugged West Coast is hemmed between the Tasman Sea and the imposing Southern Alps, making for spectacular contrasts in the surrounding scenery. The scenic flights fly from both Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier villages, with an operating base situated on the main road of each. A 30 minute drive separates the Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier villages. The perfect opportunity to get up close to the glaciers and touch snow. You'll be captivated as you lift off and fly up and over the Franz Josef Glacier or Fox Glacier and experience the solitude of a landing in this natural alpine wonderland. The fleet consists predominantly of European AS355 Twin Engine Squirrels, and AS350 ....
Guided Kayak Adventure on Lake Mapourika
Lake Mapourika Kayaking: Experience the true beauty of New Zealand's West Coast by joining a guided kayak adventure on Lake Mapourika. This breathtaking lake is surrounded by the Southern Alps and glaciers, which provide an unbeatable panoramic view.Location
Lake Mapourika is located just seven minutes from the center of Franz Josef township and was created around 14,000 years ago after a significant ice age when the glacier retreated. The surr....
Experience the natural beauty of the West Coast on a personalized scenic cruise on Lake Mapourika.
Lake Mapourika Location
Located just seven minutes from the center of Franz Josef township, Lake Mapourika is a Kettle Lake created around 14,000 years ago as the glacier retreated after a significant ice age. It's the largest mirror lake in the South Westland region, and the surrounding tall peaks make the lake calm and mirror-like, offering you unbeatable panoramic views of glaciers and some of the tallest peaks in the country.Jurassic Rainforest
The lake's Jurassic rainforest-fringed shoreline is home to many native bird....
Punakaiki is a beautiful place where you can enjoy the magnificent limestone formations called Pancake Rocks, which have been carved over millions of years.
Location
Located on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & Blowholes is a unique natural attraction that showcases the stunning beauty of the region. These rocks are located 40 minutes north of Greymouth and are situated in the heart of Paparoa National Park.20-minute short walk
You can easily access the stunning Pancake Rocks by taking a 20-minute loop track from the main highway. Thi....
Single Quad Bike - Driver and Passenger Adventure
Located in the remote Franz Josef Glacier Village with the beautiful backdrop of the majestic Southern Alps. Your experienced guide will kit you out with wet weather gear and teach the driver how to ride the off-roading vehicle before taking you on a thrilling off-road adventure through a beautiful rainforest splashing through rivers and riding over ancient glacial riverbeds and grasslands.
No driver’s license or experience is required for Quad Biking
Drivers must be at least 16 years of age or 18 years of age if driving with children (minimum age 4 years). Please note....
West Coast Gold Rush
This faithfully recreated pioneer town was born out of the great West Coast gold rushes of the 1860s. Nestled amidst regenerative native rain forests, Shantytown provides a real sense of what it was like to live in New Zealand. Enjoy full entry into the Heritage Park and its exhibits, a steam train ride up into the lush rainforest, gold panning, and souvenirs of real gold. Shantytown Heritage Park is set on 500 acres of native rainforest. The town and surrounding buildings consist of 30 shops and buildings to explore. Children are well catered for at Shantytown with a flying fox (zip wire) playground, treasure hunts to complete (available for Reuben Waite's General....
The Experience Lake Mahinapua is one of the finest spots around Hokitika for a day out or a quiet afternoon. The scenic reserve was gazetted in 1907 and provides a forested margin around the lake. The lake was once a coastal lagoon, but with the build up of coastal dune systems, became a shallow inland lake. Walkways The Walkways are wheelchair and pram friendly. Parents can let their children roam freely (whilst under direct supervision) as the walkways are completely enclosed to ensure their safety. Tower Thrill seekers will feel their hearts pump and the adrenalin rush as they climb to the top of Hokitika Tower 40 metres above the forest floor. Be inspired by a sensational vista of the majestic snow capped Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea. Cantilever Gently sway in harmony with the forest on the Mahinapua Springboard. View the exquisite Lake Mahinapua through the richly diverse for....