Situated on the west coast of the South Island, 330km from Christchurch, Westport is the largest town of the region, and the hub of the Buller. With a strong mining heritage and an astounding array of spectacular landscapes to explore, you’re going to want to see it all – and the only way to efficiently do that is with a hire car.
Located between the southern alps and the Tasman sea, there’s plenty of natural wonders along the west coast of the South Island. Jump in a car and get exploring.
Westport is a self proclaimed “surf town” and with the spectacular beaches on offer it’s no surprise that this is a preferred local pastime. The currents of the Tasman make the water temperature here warmer than in many other New Zealand destinations, extending the swimming season weeks or months depending on your tolerance. There are numerous surf schools that welcome newcomers if you’d like some professional pointers, or you can just grab a boogie board and have a go. You can even enjoy a freshwater wave, as the Buller river meets the ocean at Shingles Beach – a unique experience that happens whenever there’s a strong northerly wind. During Summer and Autumn, you might find yourself sharing the water with migrating dolphins – an unforgettable experience.
Sixteen kilometres west of Westport you will find Tauranga Bay, home of the Cape Foulwind Walk – despite the baleful name you will find a beautiful and pleasant vista to explore. On the headland is one of New Zealand’s largest and most accessible Fur Seal colonies – they live here year round so be sure to pay them a visit.
Get off the beaten track with a drive up to beautiful and isolated Karamea through historic gold mining towns to the Kahurangi National Park. – one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets with long empty beaches and beautiful scenery to explore everywhere you look. Kahurangi National park offers an array of activities – explore the crystal caves, or take a kayak or raft down the river. There are plenty of well marked walking trails (In New Zealand bush walking/hiking is known as “tramping”) to explore at a range of difficulty levels.
Another hidden gem easily accessible from Westport is the small town of Granity. Stay at the spectacular colonial era “Ghost Lodge” right on the beach and explore the Charming Creek Walkway – a walk along an old railway track through tunnels, past waterfalls, surrounded by pristine rainforest all around you. The full circuit is nineteen kilometres, but you can choose a portion of it if you’re wanting a quicker adventure. If you have time it is well worth doing the whole walkway though as the views and variety of landscapes to explore are truly unforgettable.
If you’re looking to step up the pace, take on the Old Ghost Road, a mountain biking and tramping trail. This rugged road is like an open-air museum, taking you along an old gold mining trail, through ghost towns and forgotten terrain.
The Pancake Rocks and Blowhole at Dolomite Point near Punakaiki is another great day trip out of Westport – pay attention to the tide times and you will see some spectacular blowholes shooting water high up into the air. There is a fantastic wheelchair accessible track here offering an easy 45-minute walk to take in the sights. There’s a natural limestone bridge and a beautiful surge pool that will have you reaching for your camera.
With your comfortable hire car taking you everywhere you want to go with ease you will love exploring beautiful Westport.
