New Zealand’s West Coast is pretty high up there on most peoples travel lists. It’s a rugged coastline with a mountain backdrop is pretty hard to beat. Throw into that some incredible glaciers, some cool caves and a dizzying array of walks, lakes and camp grounds, and you have a region that is hard to top.
The West Coast is often seen as being an expensive trip. There is an abundance of paid activities to get you up close and personal with the glaciers, the waterways and the mountains of the region. However, you can still experience the best New Zealand’s West Coast has to offer without breaking your budget on activities.
Here are the best free things to do on the West Coast, ordered from the very bottom to the very tippy top. We’ll share all our favourite free activities as far as the West Coast road will take you. After all, if you are going to do New Zealand’s West Coast you may as well do it all!
Be sure to check out our Instagram to see more free activities all over New Zealand!
Visit Jackson Bay
The end or start of New ZeanWest Coast road, depending on how you look at it. The drive out to Jackson Bay will feel as if you are driving along the beach itself, that’s how close to the coast you are.
At the end of the road you’ll find the cutest fish and chip shop, a great jetty to walk out on or try your luck fishing (Hopefully you do better than Nathan who was lucky if he got a bit of sea weed) and a spot to freedom camp!
The bay is super calm and great for a swim. There are a few short walks you can do that lead to different bays. We loved doing the Wharekai-Te Kou walk which takes you through lush bush next to a bubbling stream, out to a rocky beach around the headland from Jackson Bay.
Ship Creek
A beach and ancient swamp forest walk combined in one! The swap walk is about 800m return and the Dune walk is a 1km loop. Make sure you spend some time at the beach too, looking out for dolphins and sea lions as you wander. It’s hard to believe these two walks start from the same place, as they are so vastly different from each other. The swamp walk will take you through swamp land with towering trees and birdlife all around. Then return to the start and take up the Dune walk, which is a coastal paradise of sand and scrubby wind swept plants. It’s wild to think how close these vastly different places actually are.
Fox Glacier Walkway
You can’t come to the West Coast and not experience the glaciers in one way or another. Whilst there are plenty of paid options to take a helicopter up onto the glacier, there are also some great walking tracks to give you a view of the glaciers from afar.
The Fox Glacier Walkway is a well-formed track with a small incline and a great way to see the glacier without spending the big bucks. The view of the glacier is stunning. Make sure you do the entire walkway to get multiple vantage points of the glacier. A 6.4km there and back track, take the Moraine Trail on the way back down for a gorgeous lush forest walk that will have you living out your fantasy forest dreams!
Lake Matheson
A stunning lake that is well known for its reflections of Aoraki. Whilst there was a little too much cloud and wind for us to get the iconic Lake Matheson picture, we still had a great time walking around this lake. There are ample spots to stop and take in the view.
We highly recommend walking up the stairs to the view of views! It really is a great vantage point from up there. The walk itself is a 2.6km loop track that is relatively easy.
Tatare Tunnels
A gentle enough incline will have you walking up to these man made tunnels on a 3.9km there and back track. The track is well-formed and follows a beautiful river for most of the walk up to the tunnels. At the tunnel entrance, you will find some information boards to read all about the mining efforts here.
Bring along a head torch and either some waterproof shoes or shoes that you don’t mind getting wet to explore the tunnels. There is water running through the tunnels and whilst you can walk through them, you can’t get to the very end due to some damage to the end structure.
Alex Knob Track For Views Of Franz Josef Glacier
This one isn’t for everyone, if you aren’t a hiker, then give the Franz Josef Glacier walk a try to get views of the glacier. If you are a hiker, lace up your boots and head up the steep track that is Alex Knob for some truly spectacular views of Franz Josef glacier.
Don’t be expecting an overly peaceful walk, though. Whilst the bush you walk through is lovely, you will be accosted with the sound of helicopters all day! It’s a busy area with scenic flights and glacier walks, seeing helicopters running constantly. If you want to get to the very top of Alex knob you need to get an early start as cloud often forms in the afternoon, reducing any visibility.
We started a little late and only hiked up to the Christmas Viewpoint for that reason. Another thing worth noting is there isn’t much parking here, so it’s well worth starting early to make sure you get a spot. We got here for 9am and got the last spot on the side of the road!
Ōkārito Wetland Walk
Wetlands, mountain views, bird song and beaches will accompany you on this beautiful hike through the bush and wetland area of Ōkarito. The walk itself is a moderate 10km, with an option to turn it into a loop track by walking back along the beach at low tide.
Make sure you climb up the trig track for the best views over the wetland and out to the mountains of the West Coast. Keep an eye out whilst you are walking back along the beach for some dolphins. We were lucky enough to see multiple pods of dolphins on this hike!
Explore Hokitika
Give yourself at least a day to wander the shops and sites of Hokitika. The beach is stunning, and who can go past taking a photo of the famous drift wood sign? The shops are all quirky and full of local arts and crafts. There are some excellent eateries too, from your good old-fashioned bakery to a fancy toasted sandwich shop. The second hand shops here are awesome as well. Nathan scored himself a brand-new hoodie and Tiff got a gorgeous dress. There really is so much to do here!
Coal Creek Falls
An easy 3.6km return walk through lush bush will lead you to the cascading Coal Creek Falls. You get a great vantage point from the well-placed chair at the top of the track before walking down to the base of the creek for a little swim. The water is cold but so refreshing on a summers’ day, the rocky nature of these wide falls creates some great spots to sit under the running water and live your best mermaid life.
Freedom Camp On A West Coast Beach
The rugged west coastline is incredible to drive past, but it’s even better to spend the night at! You really can’t miss a west coast sunset on the beach. You will need a self-contained vehicle for this one, but if you can’t camp on the beach, at least try to be here for one sunset.
Our favourite spot to freedom camp on the West Coast was Cargill’s Road FC. There is only room for 3 vehicles, so don’t get here too late, or you may miss out on a spot!
Punakaiki Rocks
The best time to visit pancake rocks is at high tide. You’ll get the best action out of all the blow holes as the waves surge up the rocks. It’s an easy enough walk out to the rocks and if you come on a clear day you’ll be able to see down the West Coast to Aoraki and beyond!
Time it just right, and you may even get to see some rainbows in the blow holes.
The rocks themselves are just as impressive as the blow holes, they really do look like stacks of thick delicious pancakes. If the visit leaves you hungry, you can cross the road from the coastal walk and get yourself some pancakes from Pancake Rocks Cafe!
Truman Track
A simple track that will take you through changing coastal bush down to the beach. You can really see the change in the bush type as you walk down to the track. You’ll start off with a lush rainforest feel that slowly thins out to tall grass and then a rugged scrubbed coastline.
If you time your visit with low tide, you’ll be able to get down to the beach and explore the cliff formations and little caves of this cove. Be aware of the tide, though, as it can get dangerous at high tide or when the seas are too rough.
Meybille Bay Lookout
This roadside stop is the lookout of our dreams! We love a winding road with an epic view, and boy does this deliver! We could have spent the entire day watching the waves roll in, and the cars drive by on their merry way. This lookout does sneak up on you, so we recommend putting it into Google Maps so you don’t miss your chance to stop for the views.
Cape Foulwind Walkway & Seal Colony
Coastal views, a cute little lighthouse and an abundance of happy sea lions. What more could you want from a walk? If you aren’t feeling like doing the entire track, you can break it up by driving to the lighthouse and then driving to the seal colony. Why is it called a seal colony when they are actually sea lions? We have no idea, but it annoys Tiff to no end that everyone calls these beautiful sea lions, seals. They are two very different creatures!
Lake Hanlon
Make sure you put this one in Google Maps, as It’s not well signposted. If you didn’t know it was there, you’d miss it entirely! A great roadside stop and easy enough walk to get to the lake. The walk itself is through lush bush, with many a bird or interesting tree to stop and admire.
The lake is incredibly peaceful, and you are highly likely to have the entire place to yourself. Stop a minute at the jetty and listen to nature all around you.
Karamea Walking Tree
It might be just a tree, but we think this one is giving ‘that Wānaka Tree’ a run for its money. Less crowded and much more quirky, the Karamea walking tree is the closest we will ever get to meeting a real life Ent from Lord of the Rings. If you are a fan of the movies, then you really can’t miss visiting this tree whilst you are in Karamea. No, it wasn’t used for the films, but we think it’s just as cool as the other filming locations you’ll come across on your New Zealand travels.
Drive To The End Of The Road At Karamea
Don’t stop when you reach the town! The road keeps going all the way up to a Department of Conservation camp ground and walking track site. The drive up to the end of the road feels like you are driving back in time. As you start to leave the farm land behind you are left with rugged cliffs, the ocean stretching out before you and palm filled bush that one can imagine would have looked like this when the first people arrived to Aotearoa.
If you can camp the night here, then do! The beach is stunning and makes for a great place to catch the sunset. The walks in the area are gorgeous too. Make sure you at least try the Kohaihai Nikau Walk, an easy 1.4km loop track. As the name suggests, it takes you through a Nikau forest, which feels even more prehistoric than the drive out here.
Keen for more inspo? Be sure to check out:
- 5 Free Things to do in Christchurch
- 10 Free & Cheap Things To Do In Wānaka
- Queenstown Must Do: A Different Side To The Adventure Paradise!
