//
Region of New Zealand
Photo: Ingolfson at English Wikipedia (Original text: Uploader,), Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
The West Coast is a region of the western South Island of New Zealand that's long and relatively narrow, squeezed between the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea.
By road
From Blenheim either take State Highway 6 via Nelson and the Hope Saddle to Murchison or take State Highway 63 via St Arnaud and the Nelson Lakes National Park.
By train
By coach
State Highway 6 runs the length of the West Coast and most notable destinations are either on the highway or a short distance from it.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Regional · HKK
Loading places around the airport…
contains the only peak above 3000 metres outside Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park
home of the Pancake Rocks
The Wangapeka Track is a tramping track that crosses Kahurangi National Park in the north-west of the South Island of New Zealand, between the Nelson Bays region and the northern part of the West Coast region. It contains rain forest, river walks, steep climbs and creek and river crossings.
home to the West Coast glaciers.
Articles and travel topics about West Coast (New Zealand) and New Zealand.
Travel tipsCompare and apply for the Australia ETA and New Zealand NZeTA in 2026. Step-by-step mobile app guides, fees, the IVL levy, and trans-Tasman rules.
7 min read
InspirationThe best places to visit in January for winter sun, deep powder snow and wildlife, comparing Niseko, Sri Lanka, Tromsø and New Zealand.
7 min read
Travel tipsFive of the best countries for solo female travellers, featuring safe night streets, easy public transit, and essential neighbourhood safety tips.
6 min read
Culture & historyExplore famous movie and tv filming locations around the world, from King's Landing in Dubrovnik to the Hogwarts viaduct in Scotland.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.