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 PHIL'S BEST KEPT SECRET #21

 

 

Phil Keoghan, Kiwi host of US reality show "The Amazing Race" is keen to share secrets from his home region with the rest of the world, in hope that visitors will get to experience the best Christchurch, Canterbury, West Coast, Marlborough and Nelson, have to offer. 

Phil is pictured above in front of the fascinating Pancake rocks blowholes at Punakaiki.

 

The Great West Coast Road

Rated one of the world's "10 best road trips" by Lonely Planet, cruising the highway between Karamea to Haast  is one of the best ways to experience New Zealand's West Coast.

Travelling along State highway six, the Great West Coast Road's  scenery is unparalleled, from rainforests to glaciers, dramatic rivers to pancake rocks and stunning Tasman Sea views. However, an important part of the West Coast experience is to discover and explore the unique locations that only the locals know. Following the uncrowded Great West Coast Road  is an excellent way for visitors to experience this very special part of New Zealand - as well as meeting the people who know it best.

From Westport, heading south, Tauranga Bay is known for its seal colony and surf breaks. The next stop, Paparoa National Park and Punakaiki, is legendary for its pancake rocks, testament to nature's fury and a "must-do" for most visitors to the South Island.  Head to Barrytown, known for its local artisans, and Greymouth, the West Coasts  'Big Smoke' with its proud gold-mining history. Hokitika, home of the famous Wildfoods festival, is a favourite with visitors who love the various artist galleries,  greenstone souvenirs and  beach serenity.

Some 140 glaciers flow from the Southern Alps, however only two (Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers) penetrate as far as the lower rainforests, this is the only place outside of Argentina where this occurs. At the end of the Great West Coast Road is Haast, a place declared by UNESCO to stand alongside the Grand Canyon, Great Barrier Reef, Mount Everest and other significant natural treasures around the world.

With less than one percent of New Zealand's  population scattered across almost nine percent of New Zealand's land area, West Coasters are known for their spirited independence and rugged determination.

Let us welcome you to one of Phil Keoghan's best-kept secrets - New Zealand's Great West Coast Road.

 

 Take your time - after all, once you're on West Coast time, you'll forget how to rush.

   Book your West Coast holiday now and discover Phil's Best Kept Secret #21!

Accommodation                 Activities

 

What's new - Hokitika Story join Dr Ebenezer Teichelmann or Premier Richard John Seddon for a 50 minute guided walk of Hokitika’s heritage hot spots including the Hokitika Museum. Contact Hokitika i-Site 03 755 6898