The West Coast & Glaciers
The West Coast is New Zealand at its wildest. A narrow, rugged strip between the Tasman Sea and the Southern Alps, it's a place where glaciers flow through rainforest to near sea level, waves pound empty beaches, and greenstone is carved in old river towns. Remote and dramatic, it's one of the great scenic drives — here's what not to miss.
Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers
The West Coast's wonders are its glaciers. Franz Josef (Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere) and Fox (Te Moeka o Tuawe) tumble from the Alps down through temperate rainforest — a rare sight. Walk the valley trails to viewpoints of the terminal faces, or take a guided heli-hike up onto the ice, now the main way to walk the glaciers as they retreat. Nearby, Lake Matheson mirrors Aoraki on a still morning. See our glacier experiences page.
Punakaiki, Hokitika & the coast
The coast itself is full of wonders. At Punakaiki, the layered Pancake Rocks boom with blowholes at high tide; Hokitika is the home of pounamu (greenstone) carving, with its luminous turquoise gorge close by; and everywhere, rainforest, rivers and driftwood beaches stretch beneath the Alps. It's wild, uncrowded and unforgettable. See our things to do guide.
The TranzAlpine & the passes
Reaching the Coast is part of the pleasure. Ride the famous TranzAlpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth over Arthur's Pass, or drive the Haast Pass that links the glaciers with Wānaka and Queenstown to the south. Either way, the journey through the Alps is a highlight in itself. See our getting around guide.
The West Coast & glaciers: your questions
The Franz Josef (Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere) and Fox (Te Moeka o Tuawe) glaciers are two of the few glaciers in the world that flow down through temperate rainforest almost to sea level. You can walk to viewpoints near the terminal faces, or take a guided heli-hike onto the ice for the closest experience. See our glacier experiences page.
Yes — but access has changed as the glaciers have retreated, so guided heli-hikes (flying up onto the ice by helicopter) are now the main way to walk on Franz Josef and Fox, rather than hiking up from the valley floor. Valley walks still reach excellent viewpoints of the terminal faces. Conditions vary with weather, so check current options. See our glaciers & the Southern Alps guide.
The wild West Coast rewards exploring: the extraordinary Pancake Rocks and blowholes at Punakaiki, the greenstone (pounamu) town of Hokitika and its turquoise gorge, mirror-like Lake Matheson with its Aoraki reflections, and lush rainforest, rivers and empty beaches. It's remote, dramatic and uncrowded. See our things to do guide.
The classic way is the TranzAlpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth, or by road over Arthur's Pass or the Haast Pass (which links the glaciers with Wānaka and Queenstown). It's a natural leg of a South Island loop between Canterbury and the south. See our getting around guide.
Yes — Hokitika is the heart of New Zealand's pounamu (greenstone) tradition, with carving studios and galleries, plus the stunning turquoise Hokitika Gorge nearby and a wild driftwood beach. It also hosts the quirky annual Wildfoods Festival. It's a characterful West Coast stop. See our South Island tours.