Overview
Take a Trip to the West Coast on your New Zealand Vacation
The West Coast region, located on the South Island of New Zealand, is simply known by locals as “The Coast” and stretches 600 kilometres/360 miles from north to south along the Tasman Sea coast. It is scenic with wild coastlines and rugged mountains and is largely remote and sparsely populated, all to be seen on a New Zealand vacation.
There are three major towns, Greymouth, Westport and Hokitika, the largest and most important being Greymouth which can be reached by the TranzAlpine train on New Zealand Tours leaving daily from Christchurch and offering views en route of fantastic scenery. Nearby is Shantytown, famous during the gold rush days of the 1860s. In fact, one can still try one’s hand at gold panning here and can also enjoy a ride on a steam train. The coastal road between Westport and Greymouth offers an extremely dramatic and scenic drive.
Other attractions are the Franz Joseph and Fox Glaciers which rise 250 meters/800 feet above sea level. Here one can have an easy walk to the foot of these glaciers to experience the beauty of these steep-sided valleys.
Two great hikes are along the Heaphy Track and the Cascade-Hollyford Track. An impressive sight along the coast is Punakaiki with its pancake rocks and blowholes.
Two great hikes are along the Heaphy Track and the Cascade-Hollyford Track. An impressive sight along the coast is Punakaiki with its pancake rocks and blowholes.
At a Glance
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Unforgettable Journeys.10 Trips Found
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10 Trips Found
Classic New Zealand
Christchurch, West Coast, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Upolu Point, Wellington, Rotorua, and AucklandFrom Auckland’s harbours to Christchurch’s revitalised streets, this classic New Zealand itinerary celebrates diverse landscapes and rich Maori culture seamlessly.
13 days
From US$4,227/p.p.
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Lord of the Rings Road Trip: Explore Middle Earth
Christchurch, Queenstown, Milford Sound, West Coast, Abel Tasman National Park, Wellington, North Island, Rotorua, and AucklandJourney through New Zealand on this road trip, exploring breathtaking landscapes and iconic film sets from *The Lord of the Rings* while embracing adventure at every stop.
17 days
From US$6,912/p.p.
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New Zealand Landscapes & Wonders
West Coast, Abel Tasman National Park, Upolu Point, Wellington, Hawkes Bay, Napier, and RotoruaDiscover New Zealand’s geothermal landscapes, coastal wildlife, glacier valleys and Māori culture, drifting by ferry and road through ever-changing scenery.
11 days
From US$3,991/p.p.
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New Zealand Dual Island Discovery with Airfare
Christchurch, West Coast, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Wellington, Rotorua, and AucklandUncover the contrasts of New Zealand on this independent trip with airfare, from glow worm grottos and Maori culture to glaciers, fjords, and alpine wonders.
15 days
From US$4,499/p.p.
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New Zealand: Ultimate Rail, Cruise & Coach Experience
Christchurch, Dunedin, South Island, Queenstown, Milford Sound, West Coast, Wellington, Rotorua, Auckland, Bay of Islands, and NorthlandSmall group touring reveals New Zealand’s wild heart, from geothermal wonders and alpine rails to Māori culture, glacial fiords and coastal wildlife.
19 days
From US$8,755/p.p.
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North & South Island Road Trip Across New Zealand
Christchurch, Dunedin, South Island, Queenstown, Milford Sound, West Coast, Abel Tasman National Park, Wellington, North Island, Hawkes Bay, Napier, Rotorua, and Coromandel PeninsulaExperience New Zealand in 18 unforgettable days, from Auckland's coastline to Queenstown's thrills, featuring glaciers, geothermal wonders, and local delights.
18 days
From US$3,689/p.p.
Request a Quote
Pure New Zealand Road Trip & Wellness Journey
Queenstown, Milford Sound, West Coast, and South IslandImmerse yourself in tranquillity on this New Zealand road trip, combining stunning scenery with wellness retreats, creating the perfect escape for relaxation and rejuvenation.
12 days
From US$9,319/p.p.
Request a Quote
Twin Islands of New Zealand Road Trip
Christchurch, West Coast, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Rotorua, and AucklandDiscover the stunning beauty of New Zealand's North and South Islands. Experience Auckland's culture, Rotorua's geothermal wonders, and thrilling Queenstown adventures.
10 days
From US$1,609/p.p.
Request a Quote
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perfect trip idea?
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Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
Classic New Zealand
Christchurch, West Coast, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Upolu Point, Wellington, Rotorua, and AucklandFrom Auckland’s harbours to Christchurch’s revitalised streets, this classic New Zealand itinerary celebrates diverse landscapes and rich Maori culture seamlessly.
13 days
From US$4,227/p.p.
Request a Quote
Lord of the Rings Road Trip: Explore Middle Earth
Christchurch, Queenstown, Milford Sound, West Coast, Abel Tasman National Park, Wellington, North Island, Rotorua, and AucklandJourney through New Zealand on this road trip, exploring breathtaking landscapes and iconic film sets from *The Lord of the Rings* while embracing adventure at every stop.
17 days
From US$6,912/p.p.
Request a Quote
New Zealand Landscapes & Wonders
West Coast, Abel Tasman National Park, Upolu Point, Wellington, Hawkes Bay, Napier, and RotoruaDiscover New Zealand’s geothermal landscapes, coastal wildlife, glacier valleys and Māori culture, drifting by ferry and road through ever-changing scenery.
11 days
From US$3,991/p.p.
Request a Quote
New Zealand Dual Island Discovery with Airfare
Christchurch, West Coast, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Wellington, Rotorua, and AucklandUncover the contrasts of New Zealand on this independent trip with airfare, from glow worm grottos and Maori culture to glaciers, fjords, and alpine wonders.
15 days
From US$4,499/p.p.
Request a Quote
New Zealand: Ultimate Rail, Cruise & Coach Experience
Christchurch, Dunedin, South Island, Queenstown, Milford Sound, West Coast, Wellington, Rotorua, Auckland, Bay of Islands, and NorthlandSmall group touring reveals New Zealand’s wild heart, from geothermal wonders and alpine rails to Māori culture, glacial fiords and coastal wildlife.
19 days
From US$8,755/p.p.
Request a Quote
North & South Island Road Trip Across New Zealand
Christchurch, Dunedin, South Island, Queenstown, Milford Sound, West Coast, Abel Tasman National Park, Wellington, North Island, Hawkes Bay, Napier, Rotorua, and Coromandel PeninsulaExperience New Zealand in 18 unforgettable days, from Auckland's coastline to Queenstown's thrills, featuring glaciers, geothermal wonders, and local delights.
18 days
From US$3,689/p.p.
Request a Quote
Pure New Zealand Road Trip & Wellness Journey
Queenstown, Milford Sound, West Coast, and South IslandImmerse yourself in tranquillity on this New Zealand road trip, combining stunning scenery with wellness retreats, creating the perfect escape for relaxation and rejuvenation.
12 days
From US$9,319/p.p.
Request a Quote
Twin Islands of New Zealand Road Trip
Christchurch, West Coast, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Rotorua, and AucklandDiscover the stunning beauty of New Zealand's North and South Islands. Experience Auckland's culture, Rotorua's geothermal wonders, and thrilling Queenstown adventures.
10 days
From US$1,609/p.p.
Request a Quote
Don't see the
perfect trip idea?
Request a custom quote.
Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
What do the experts say?
The food in New Zealand is incredible, and New Zealanders are rightly proud of their paddock to plate cuisine. Almost everything is sustainably grown and processed, from lamb and seafood to vegetables and fruit.
About 20 percent of New Zealand is made up of National Parks, Forests, and Nature Reserves. And they’re all free to enter!
The Māori cultural experiences and performances offered throughout the North and South Islands are well worth seeking out. If the opportunity presents itself, definitely take part in a hāngī
Looking for a great restaurant in New Zealand? Try The Bunker in Queenstown, Plato in Dunedin, Manu in Christchurch, and Oppies Fish & Chips in Rotorua
All Blacks rugby is huge in New Zealand. If you’re a sports fan, be sure to check out a home game. The All Blacks typically play their home test matches during the months of July, August, September and sometimes October
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I wanted to reach out and share some well-deserved praise for Jacqueline, who has assisted me closely with several of my travels. She recently curated a trip for me to Croatia, the beautiful islands, and Montenegro, and it was an absolute home run.
Jacqueline has an incredible ability to listen to her clients' needs and translate them perfectly into a flawless itinerary. Her articulation, guideline execution, and professionalism are unmatched. What sets her apart is her forward-thinking approach—she always knows the exact hotspots and trends, ensuring the pace of the trip matches my speed perfectly.
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Vince Sacco Vince SaccoAbsolutely incredible trip! From beginning to end! All accommodations were excellent. If you want to experience Safaris this trip will fulfill all your expectations! A special thanks to our driver we had for our entire trip Evans! He made our trip over the top! The Hot air balloon ride in the Masai Mara is a must…it’s breathtaking!Pam SeitzI have worked with Goway several times in the past two years and every single trip has been unforgettable. Specifically, our travel advisor, Maria, has helped us book phenomenal trips to Thailand, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, and most recently, Iceland. Maria is so wonderful and easy to talk to, but what really stands out is her ability to get to know her clients so she can plan trips that perfectly align with our interests and desires. I cannot recommend her strongly enough! Her expertise, hard-work, and dedication towards each trip has given myself, my family, and friends memories to last a lifetime! Kayla CovelloJamil made our 40th birthday trip to Portugal so so very amazing and special! Great service, fabulous hotels, and wonderful day trips! Lane StricklandKatie was great, planned everything we needed, was great with changes and trip schedule conflicts. Fantastic working with her.CTI have been booking with GoWay for more than 2 years and feel so fortunate to have the best Travel Advisor, Maria Spitman, making our vacations unforgettable. I can’t say enough about Maria… she is personable, efficient, detail-oriented, and extremely knowledgeable about her specialty destinations. We have booked many trips with her, including Thailand, Spain, Portugal, Sicily, Iceland, and our most recent trip in Greece. Maria has not only curated nuanced itineraries, but has done so combining her vast knowledge of each region with our interests and needs being met perfectly. With that, it is evident that Maria learns about her clients to create vacation packages that far exceed expectations. I won’t book with anyone else! GoWay has a gem that is irreplaceable! I highly recommend seeking Maria out for all your destination needs. Darleen
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