West Coast

The West Coast (Te Tai Poutini) of the Southern Alps is over 600kms of breathtaking scenery, with plenty of activities and a slow pace of life to truly unwind and relax. The sheer diversity of the scenery along the Coast will take your breath away from the magnificent alpine vista to the spectacular coastline, rain forests, glaciers and lush farmland intersected by blue braided rivers and rushing mountain streams. The not to be missed scenic highlights of the West Coast include the Oparara Arches in Karamea, Punakaiki's Pancake Rocks and Blowholes, the Hokitika Gorge and Franz Josef and Fox Glacier. Find out more at www.westcoast.co.nz

Major Centres:

Westport
Greymouth
Hokitika

Airports:

Hokitikia Domestic Airport Westport Domestic Airport

Driving distance

Franz Josef Glacier Guides

+64 3752 0763

Glacier Base,
63 Cron Street,
Franz Josef

Franz Josef Glacier Guides is an internationally recognized guiding operation that prides itself on providing the most incredible glacier experience. We make a clear commitment to our visitors that our trip is the most spectacular and rewarding available, walking up into the glacier terrain with your experienced guide is a once a lifetime opportunity. We have a range of trips to suit every ability, from a valley walk, to Ice Explorer and Heli Hike options and, for the more adventurous ice climbing - there is a trip for almost everyone.

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Garth Wilson Jade

+64 3 762 6226

63 Rutherglen Road,
Paroa,
Greymouth 7805,
West Coast, South Island.

Garth Wilson Jade offers a tour through the workshop so the visitor can see how the pounamu is worked and learn about the history of the pounamu here on the West Coast from a direct descendant of the original pounamu traders. Handle pounamu stones collected from different areas here on the West Coast, learn the history, the meaning of the shapes and, if desired, purchase an authentic piece of handcrafted pounamu.

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Hokitika Scenic Tours

+64 210 232 5363

I pick up and drop off anywhere within the Hokitika area to suit customers. Other areas can be catered for by arrangement.

Hokitika Scenic Tours offers specialised, informative, sightseeing tours and transport to any destination or attraction you would like to visit on the West Coast.

Run by local, Rachel, who has lived and worked on the West Coast for over 35 years, visitors can enjoy half day, full day or multi-day tours tailored to their liking to explore the untamed natural wilderness with informative stories of 18th century Maori and European settlement in the 1860s to the present day.

Tours include getting up close with everything from rivers and lakes to mountains and glaciers, all of which connect with the original Greenstone trails of the Māori people. Tours depart daily with bespoke drop off times and locations.

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Te Koha Jade Carving

+64 3 7520 279 and +64 27 205 4640

69 Waiho Flat Road,
Franz Josef Glacier 7856
West Coast.

~Carve your own unique piece of New Zealand~

Kia ora!

Immerse yourself in a hands-on, authentic, cultural experience and take home your own special piece of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Rain, hail or shine, Mike and Jan Goodall will show you the craftsmanship that goes into producing a taonga/treasure made from NZ's most prized stone - the pounamu.

Classes are held at a studio located on their West Coast Farm - you can't get more authentic than that! Cost is $75 per person and a courtesy van is available.

Full tuition is provided and anyone can do it. Take home that one off piece that you will always treasure.

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Waewae Pounamu

+64 3 755 8304

39 Weld Street,
Hokitika

At the beginning of the 19th Century, Ngāti Waewae, a tribal affiliate of Ngai Tahu, laid claim to the ownership of the West Coast through conquest. Today Ngāti Waewae are centred at Arahura Pa, a Māori Reserve, where the people are known as kaitiaki (guardians) of pounamu (greenstone). Ngāti Waewae occupation has been sustained by the beautiful treasure known as pounamu, a prized possession of their people. Waewae Pounamu is totally owned and operated by Ngāti Waewae, which lies within the heart of "Greenstone Isle" – Te Waipounamu, the South Island of New Zealand.

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West Coast

Franz Josef Glacier Guides

Garth Wilson Jade

Hokitika Scenic Tours

Te Koha Jade Carving

Waewae Pounamu