West Coast New Zealand

The best place in New Zealand, naturally

There is nowhere quite like the West Coast of the South Island - it really is a natural wonderland.  Bounded by Kahurangi National Park to the north and Mount Aspiring National Park to the south, the region lies in a narrow band between the magnificent Southern Alps and Tasman Sea. 

Nearly two million hectares, or 87 percent, of the West Coast is protected conservation land.  The remaining land is inhabited by about 32,000 people who live spread out along a 600km-long coastline in towns, small settlements, rural areas and splendid remote places.

Climate

Yes, it does rain here, but not as much as you might think.  Other places in New Zealand are a lot wetter - they're just better at hiding it!  For example, in 2004 Hokitika got 1,964 hours of sunshine and Greymouth 1,980; both a good measure ahead of Auckland's 1,825 hours. 

Another thing you may not know is our winters consist of mild temperatures, rarely any frosts and often weeks in a row of near perfect sunshine.  Summers can get so hot the only place to be is a lake or river.  In the north, around Karamea, the climate borders on subtropical much of the year, evidenced by lush groves of nikau palms and thriving subtropical plantings.

Average Temperatures (°Celcius)

Summer:  (Dec - Feb) 12-25°
Autumn:   (March - May) 9-17°
Winter:    (June - August) 5-15°
Spring:    (Sept - Nov) 9-17°

The West Coast Conservation Estate

The West Coast has two national parks entirely within its borders and shares another three with neighbouring regions.

One of the distinctive features of the West Coast – and a prime reason that so much of our wonderful wilderness areas are both intact and accessible to outdoor enthusiasts – is the fact that over 87 percent of the land is owned by the crown.  Most of this falls within the Department of Conservation’s Tai Poutini (West Coast) conservancy, which comprises more than 1.9 million hectares – a quarter of all protected land in the country!

The West Coast also has two kiwi sanctuaries, two Wilderness Areas (Adams Wilderness Area and Paparoa Wilderness Area) and a UNESCO World Heritage Area.  All together, this makes a remarkable collection of natural features that include rainforests, glaciers, extensive wetlands, the largest remaining tracts of lowland forests in New Zealand and an ocean habitat that is home to the world’s stronghold population of Hector’s dolphin.

Department of Conservation

Central Government charges the Department of Conservation (DOC) with protecting New Zealand’s natural heritage, and the West Coast is one of the Department’s largest and most ecologically diverse conservancies.

DOC West Coast operates on a budget of $12.7 million and works extensively to protect endangered wildlife and plants from introduced pests such as possums and stoats.  Its 150 permanent staff plus another 50 seasonal staff manage 1,015 kilometres of walkways, tracks and routes, 159 roadside amenity areas, 10 self-registration camping areas and 151 backcountry huts.  DOC also actively manages 96 historic sites in public conservation areas.  It is now recognised that this conservation effort stimulates $221 million a year within the local economy.

Contact
Department of Conservation
Tai Poutini Conservancy Office
Sewell St, Hokitika
Phone 03 756 8282
Email westcoast@doc.govt.nz
www.doc.govt.nz