Thread: West Coast visit.

My wife and I are planning on heading over to the coast (Westport to Karamea area) over Xmas for 5 days or so.
Any suggestions on must do's or places worth staying?
Thanks in advance.

Sandfly repellent. Gallons of it

Originally Posted by Pengy

Sandfly repellent. Gallons of it

Haha. I'll make sure we take some.

I just got home after a week in Westport and Karamea, love that part of NZ.

If your missus enjoys the classic kiwi campground try the Karamea Top 10 holiday park. No frills but clean & tidy and very peaceful location by the estuary. I had a cabin with benchtop oven, toaster and jug for $45 a night...talk about luxury! Might pay to book, this close to the loopy season.

Allow a day to drive into the Oparara basin to visit the limestone arches, caves and tarns. After that, drive to the northern end of the coast road and watch the sunset at Kohaihai beach.

A great day tramp from Karamea is the Fenian Area; Adams Flat gold workings; caves to walk through on your way back.

At Westport I drove to Carters Beach, past the airport to the south arm of the Buller rivermouth and saw Hectors dolphins just off the breakwater. Then south past the closed-down Holcim cement works to Cape Foulwind
and Tauranga Bay to look at the seal colony.

Denniston plateau is interesting to look around on a fine day too. Heaps to do on the Coast but you need to grab a few leaflets and maps from the info centre and work out what appeals to you.

Take some water, never seen it so dry down there! Kawhai in the Buller on incoming tide. They are also catching snapper regularly down that way. Not that I got any.

A great place to lean back and enjoy a relaxed part of the world! Port side cafe in Westport has outstanding tucker at reasonable prices. Take half on hour to visit the tip head and share a beer with the souls lost at sea. Or even chuck a line out , rig are handy.

Charming creek walkway in Seddonville,
Drive through from The Iron Bridge down the Buller, New Creek through to Denniston, Heaps to see around Denniston, the Museum up there is pretty cool if it is open, drive over to Mount Rochfort for some cool views.
Britannia Track is a good walk.
Nice little campground at Mokihinui and also at The Kohaihai above Karamea.

Nice little campground at Mokihinui "Gentle Annie " . +1 on the Charming Creek walk & Denniston Incline . Burgers at the Mokihinui pub worth a visit too.

Great info. Thanks all.

Thanks @rockland, got to the Oparara Arches

and camped at Kohaihai one night.


Also walked up to Scotts beach in the evening.

Had a fish for Kahawai @stingray at Little Wanganui river mouth but without any luck. Found out later they had been running at the Karamea. Stayed a night at the Little Wanganui Hotel. Played pool and had a great seafood feed. @ROKTOY, did Mt Rochfort (brilliant day and excellent views) and Denniston


and walked as far as the Watsons mill up Charming creek.
Stopped in at the campground at Mokihinui @Munsey. Great looking spot but didn't stay. We ended up staying a couple of nights at the Belltown Mananui hut and walking up to the Little Wanganui saddle.

Cool trip all round. Thanks for the advice all.

Wow , wow , wow! What a amazing photos and adventure!

One piece of coast I have yet to visit.....from just south of kahurangi lighthouse to Westport.
Bucket list for sure.

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Don’t forget to drop off a crate of fine Waikato piss for R93.....

Originally Posted by stingray

Wow , wow , wow! What a amazing photos and adventure!

Thanks @stingray. It was a pretty cool trip alright. Weather was great the whole time too. @A330driver. Didn't get far enough south for that and my conscience wouldn't let me do that anyway. I don't think @R93 has done anything bad enough to deserve that.
The most important piece of advice I got I had forgotten to mention. @Pengy, the insect repellent got a good work out. Not only sand flies but mozzies at Belltown Mananui hut. Wouldn't have slept at all without it.