Driving Routes

© Tourism West Coast

State Highway 6 from Kumara to Haast or Kumara to Westport (known affectionately to the Coasters as “The Coast Road” ), linking into State Highway 73 Kumara to Canterbury, all receive merit on a global scale. Rating very highly amongst motoring magazines through the world and more recently the lonely planet ranked our “Coast Road” as one of the top ten drives in the world. Here “coasters” take that for granted, so you get to enjoy low traffic flow, the most beautiful scenery in the world and “A” graded roads, each kilometre travelled an experience within itself.

Hokitika is the only seaside town on the West Coast and geographically the centre point town of the West Coast, so it makes sense to stay a little longer, enjoy our district, enjoy our region and base yourself here for two or more days. Enjoy the best of both worlds, relaxing days exploring, and the additional benefit of not having to find your next whistle stop bed rest.

Day trips from Hokitkia

Option 1

Go South 2 hours to Glacier Country for mirror lakes and glacier hikes. What better way to visit one of New Zealand’s most iconic attractions. The scenic drive from Hokitika takes you along SHW6 past Lake Mahinapua, onto the historic Ross township, where you can take in the panoramic views of the village and Tasman Sea from the top of the Ross Water Race Walkway. Once in glacier country – an ice experience is a must – enjoy the rainforest and ice combination – returning to your Hokitika accommodation at the end of the day

Option 2

Go 90 minutes south for White Heron tours,(Nov-March) New Zealand’s only breeding ground for the White Heron. If bird watching isn’t your passion the Hari Hari Coastal Track at low tide will provide a symphony of river, sea, sand and waves then a climb up to the Doughboy Lookout for splendid views. On your return to Hokitika, visit Pukekura, New Zealand’s smallest town (population 2) and into farming communities of Hari Hari and Whataroa, the breeding ground of New Zealand’s White Heron.

Option 3

Go north 90 minutes to Punakaiki for rock formations, blowholes or a three hour cave rafting experience at Charleston If you started out early in the day, then take in Westport and Denniston for historical walks and seal colony. Return via Reefton for a gold mining tour or vice versa, for a full day of action.

Option 4

Go east 90 minutes to Arthurs Pass National Park. This drive is one of the most scenic drives in New Zealand for high mountain peaks and deep gorges and is the main highway linking the east to west. The history of this link is humbling. Early Maori used this pathway on food collecting expeditions, though within weeks of the 1860’s gold rush in the West, the provincial government provided funds to construct a road from Christchurch to the goldfields. Today you can take time out for alpine bush walks around Arthurs Pass where you can truly experience the divide of the mighty Southern Alps. Return to Hokitika via Lake Brunner.

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