Getting to and around the West Coast of the South Island is easy!
Whether you're travelling by air via Air New Zealand link, by train or road remember to take your time and allow for photo stops.
Some things to remember:
- The Coast Road from Westport to Greymouth was rated as one of the 'World's Top 10 Coastal Drives' by Lonely Planet.
- The West Coast has 872 kilometres of spectacular highways and passes.
- The TranzAlpine train trip was rated one of the 'Top 6 Rail Journeys in the World'.
Find West Coast Transport
West Coast By Air
Regular daily services between Christchurch and Hokitika, and Westport and Wellington on weekdays with Air New Zealand.
Scenic flights: For a bird’s eye view of the West Coast, try a light aircraft or helicopter scenic flight. Services are available for both transport and sightseeing opportunities. Take a scenic flight to Mount Cook (New Zealand’s highest mountain), Mount Tasman, Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, Milford Sound, Mount Asiring, Lake Brunner, the Punakaiki Pancake rocks, the Heaphy Track, Karamea, Nelson and more.
West Coast Airports: Hokitika Airport is the largest airport on the West Coast, followed by Westport and Greymouth Airports. There are airfields and airstrips at Haast, Whataroa, Harihari, Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier. Many small settlements have grass paddock air strips with a wind sock - much as they were in the 1950's. Karamea has a tarsealed air strip.
West Coast By Car or Campervan
All four highways to the coast are spectacular and inspiring journeys.
Highways to and within the West Coast region are easy to drive, while minor roads offer exploration opportunities to 4WD enthusiasts!
- State Highway 7 links Canterbury to the West Coast. The highway weaves through beech forests to the summit of Lewis Pass (863m).
- State Highway 73 goes via Kumara Junction through the dramatic Otira Gorge in Arthur's Pass National Park, with many places to stop near running water and accessible bush walks.
- Scenic State Highway 6 through the Buller gorge links with Nelson and Christchurch via Inangahua and Murchison, following the Buller River for much of the way.
- Haast Pass (completed 1965) is the lowest pass over the main divide of the South Island at 563m. It travels through to Lakes Hawea and Wanaka and has an international reputation as a stunningly beautiful route, with many places to stop for short walks.
Find out more about driving in New Zealand.
West Coast by Train
The daily Tranzalpine train is known as one of the greatest rail journeys in the world. The train route takes passengers from Christchurch to Greymouth through some of the planet’s most gorgeous natural landscapes.
The train takes 4.5 hours to travel the 224km between Christchurch and Greymouth. It passes through 16 tunnels and over five viaducts with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, icy rivers, beech forests, spectacular gorges and river valleys.
The TranzAlpine train arrives in to Greymouth, daily from Christchurch, at 12.45pm and returns at 1.45pm.
West Coast by Bus
Bus services connect with Wanaka and Queenstown, Christchurch, Hanmer Springs, Nelson and Picton. Our national bus provider is Intercity coachlines.
