West Coast Travel Guide
West Coast accommodation, West Coast activities and attractions, West Coast maps, transportation to and around West Coast - the ALL NEW Jasons West Coast Destination Travel Guide is your complete visitor guide for West Coast.
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Set between the Tasman Sea and the unbroken chain of the Southern Alps, the magnificent West Coast stretches for 600km from
Karamea to Jackson Bay, taking in towering mountains, mighty glaciers, tranquil lakes, wild rivers and pristine rainforest.
Greymouth,
Hokitika and
Westport are the West Coast's main centres and great bases for exploring this rugged region.
Adventure and outdoor lovers will find themselves at home on the West Coast, with a huge choice of options including kayaking, rafting, fishing, cave rafting, jetboating, heli-rafting, scenic flights, 4WD and quadbiking tours, horse trekking, guided wilderness campouts and hiking. In the south of the West coast, you can visit Westland National Park to see the world's most low-lying glaciers, the
Franz Josef and
Fox glaciers. South of here, the small township of
Haast is a gateway to the spectacular drive over the alps to the resort town of
Wanaka, and a base for eco tours exploring this World Heritage region.
Geographic Location
A narrow strip of land running down the west coast of the South Island
Population
Over 30,000
Climate
High rainfall during the cool winter months; mild summers with light winds.
Average Temperatures
22°C in Summer, 11°C in Winter
Average Rainfall
Ranging from 2200mm/year in Buller to 6500mm/year in Fiordland, and more in the Southern Alps.