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The drive from Wānaka to the West Coast is one of the most beautiful in New Zealand. Taking you through Haast Pass (1 hour from Wānaka), Fox and Franz Josef glaciers (280km from Wānaka), Punakaiki (500 km from Wānaka) and the Tranz Alpine (420km from Wānaka). With towering mountains, pristine rivers and lakes, vast native forests, glaciers and wild beaches, the West Coast is truly a wild part of New Zealand.
State Highway 6 takes you from Wānaka over the Haast Pass and up the coast. It’s a long way on the map, but the road is sealed the whole way, and the stops are half the reason to go. Make it a trip of two or more days rather than a single push.
The Neck. This narrow strip of land between Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea is a good place to stop for your first view of both lakes.
Makarora. A small settlement at the head of Lake Wānaka and the last stop before the pass. It’s a good place for a coffee and to stretch your legs.
Blue Pools. A short walk through beech forest brings you to clear glacial pools where the Blue River meets the Makarora River.
Fantail and Thunder Creek falls. Both are just off the highway on the western side of the pass, and each is only a few minutes’ walk from the car park.
Ship Creek and Knights Point. North of Haast, the road meets the Tasman Sea. Walk the boardwalks through the dune lake and swamp forest at Ship Creek, then stop at the Knights Point lookout for views along the coast.
Things to do on the West Coast
See the glaciers. Franz Josef and Fox glaciers flow from the Southern Alps almost to the rainforest. Walk to the valley viewpoints, or take a scenic flight or heli-hike to get onto the ice.
Walk around Lake Matheson. Near Fox Glacier, this lake is known for its reflections of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman on a still morning.
Explore Te Wāhipounamu. The area around Haast is part of Te Wāhipounamu, the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, one of the largest untouched wilderness areas in the country.
Visit Hokitika Gorge. Just inland from Hokitika, a swing bridge crosses a gorge filled with milky turquoise water. Back in town, look for local pounamu (greenstone) carvers and the driftwood-lined beach.
See the Pancake Rocks. At Punakaiki, layered limestone formations and blowholes sit right on the coast. Aim for high tide when the sea is up. The Great Coast Road between Westport and Greymouth is worth driving for its own sake.
Get on your bike. The West Coast Wilderness Trail runs between Greymouth and Ross, and the Old Ghost Road offers a longer backcountry ride.
Take the train home. Finish your trip in Greymouth and take the TranzAlpine across the Southern Alps to Christchurch.
