West Coast New Zealand

Roads, rail and air access

• The Coast Road rated as one of the World's Best 10 Drives by The Lonely Planet
• 872 kilometres of spectacular highways and passes
• Tranzalpine one of top six rail journeys in the World
• Coach and shuttle services the length and breadth of the Coast
• In the decade 1990-2000 Transit NZ traffic counts showed an increase in vehicle numbers of 65% on Lewis Pass and 60% on Arthur's Pass
• Many private scenic flight operations
• National and local rental car franchises

Please click for transport services and travel distances.

By air
Hokitika is the largest airport followed by Westport and Greymouth.  There are airfields and airstrips at Haast, Whataroa, Harihari, Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier.  Many small settlements have grass paddock air strip with a wind sock - much as they were in the 1950's. Karamea has a tarsealed air strip.  Air New Zealand flies regular daily services between Christchurch and Hokitika, and Westport and Wellington on weekdays.  There are many scenic flight operators.  Aviation tourism, especially in the Glacier Country, is so buoyant that South Westland has the highest number of helicopters per capita of any region.

By road
All four highways to the coast are spectacular and inspiring journeys

• State Highway 7 weaves through beech forests to the summit of Lewis Pass (863m), built during the 1930's economic depression, linking Canterbury to the West Coast.
• 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 at 563m, through to 
  Lakes Hawea and Wanaka and has an international reputation as a stunningly beautiful route, with many places to stop for short walks.

By train
The daily Tranzalpine train takes 4.5 hours to travel 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.