West Coast NZ road trip: complete 10-day itinerary

Escape the crowds and discover one of the best coastal drives on the planet. This West Coast NZ road trip takes you to all the best destinations, sights and attractions - including Abel Tasman National Park, Paparoa National Park, Franz Josef Glacier, Fox Glacier, Mount Cook and Queenstown!

Use this 10-day guide when planning your West Coast New Zealand road trip. It can be modified to suit the exact number of days you have available and also includes all the best camping spots. Plus, we’ve thrown in a heap of extra information like drive time, distance, the best season to travel and much more!

Regardless of whether you’re visiting from overseas or locally, this is your chance to take on one of the best New Zealand road trips!

Want to travel the West Coast in style and comfort? Use Camplify to find the perfect campervan hire on the West Coast.

Best West Coast NZ road trip: 10 places you can’t miss

Total Distance: 850 km | Recommended duration: 5 - 10 days | Best Time to Visit: Between September and May | Route on Google Maps

1. Nelson

Kick off your West Coast NZ road trip by picking up your campervan hire in Nelson. This sunny city sits on the north coast of the South Island, making it a great starting point for those visiting from the North Island.

Nelson is also less than an hour’s drive from two of New Zealand’s most iconic natural attractions. Spend a day at Nelson Lakes National Park and see all that it has to offer by taking the Lake Rotoiti Walkway. Another day can be spent exploring Abel Tasman National Park by foot or by kayak, making sure to see all the sights like Split Apple Rock, Tonga Arches and the Wainui Falls.

Take a day trip to Kahurangi National Park on the northern tip of the West Coast, also known as the Farewell Spit. This long stretch of sand is home to a historic lighthouse, seals and over 90 species of bird. It’s also not far from Wharariki Beach, made world-famous as a Windows 10 screensaver.

Stay at the Tahuna Beach Holiday Park near Nelson City Centre. Take your pick from over 850 campsites spread across 54 acres of parkland, with beach views and its very own mini-golf course.

For more ideas, see our guide to the best road trip around Nelson or the best road trip around Abel Tasman.

2. Westport

New Zealand’s West Coast well and truly starts with the historic town of Westport. If you’d like to begin your road trip here instead of Nelson, you can always arrange for campervan hire on the West Coast.

Westport was once a gold mining town but today thrives on coal mining and outdoor adventure tourism. You can experience the daily struggles of the miners at the highly-rated Coaltown Museum , which has a simulated underground mine and an 8-ton coal wagon perched at a perilous angle.

Nature-lovers should visit the Cape Foulwind Walkway (3.4km), an easy 1.5-hour walk that is suitable for families. Along the way, you’ll see the fur seal colony lazing on the beach and learn about local history as you approach the Cape Foulwind lighthouse.

Stay at the Carter’s Beach Top 10 Holiday Park and enjoy sea views from your campsite. This family-friendly park is only a 2-minute walk from the beach and facilities include bathrooms, laundry, games room, playground, WiFi and more.

3. Punakaiki

Head southward on your West Coast NZ road trip and drive through Paparoa National Park, home to the famous Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes.

There is an easy and paved loop walk (1.1km) that takes you through the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, which were formed 30 million years ago from minute fragments of dead marine creatures and plants. At the end of the walkway, you’ll find a viewing platform, from which you can watch as towers of water are shot into the air through the blowholes and surge pools (best around high tide).

Stay at the Punakaiki Beach Camp - one of the best West Coast campsites. Nestled between the beach, the Pororari river and the National Park, this idyllic campground has plenty of powered sites and full facilities.

4. Greymouth

Greymouth is considered the heart of New Zealand’s West Coast. Surrounded by a dramatic landscape, it boasts a long history of jade hunting, gold mining and beer brewing.

It is also the arrival point of the famous TranzAlpine Scenic Railway from Christchurch. Considered one of the world’s great train journeys, the trip takes about 5 hours as it winds its way along the Waimakariri River through the Southern Alps. If you’re short on time, however, you can always recreate the experience in your campervan with a drive to Arthur’s Pass.

The legendary Monteith’s Brewing Company has been brewing on the West Coast of the South Island for 151 years. Today, it is one of the leading craft breweries in the country and one of Greymouth’s must-do attractions. Take a guided 45-minute tour of the brewery and learn how the beer is made before tasting a range of brews on tap.

Stay at the Greymouth Seaside Top 10 Holiday Park, situated only a minute away from the beach. This is a great choice for families, with its facilities including a private spa, jumping pillow, basketball hoop, playground, games room and chicken yard.

Discover some more of the best Greymouth camping grounds!

5. Hokitika

Continue your West Coast NZ road trip to historic Hokitika, home of the breathtaking Hokitika Gorge.

Within the Hokitika Gorge Scenic Reserve , you will find a 1-hour (2km) loop walk that takes you through pristine podocarp forest and over a 90m swing bridge that crosses the blue-green waters of the Hokitika River below.

Nearby is the Westcoast Tree Top Walk , an exciting treetop adventure set amongst a towering rainforest. Walk along a steel platform that sits 20m high in an ancient tree canopy. Then make your way up the 45m tall spiral tower for panoramic views of the West Coast and exquisite Lake Mahinapua.

Stay at Hokitika’s Kiwi Holiday Park, a spacious campground with awesome facilities including kitchens, amenities blocks, TV room, games room, playground and bike hire.

Check out some more of the best Hokitika camping grounds!

6. Franz Josef

Halfway down the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island is Franz Josef - a town made world-famous for its gigantic glacier.

The Franz Josef glacier is located about a 5-minute drive or a 1.5-hour walk from the town centre. Whilst many people choose to take a guided hike up the glacier's icy slopes, it is possible to view the glacier from the Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk (1.7km return). This 30-minute walk winds through the rainforest and also provides glimpses of waterfalls, mountain tops and the Waiho River.

Alternatively, you may want to take a heli-hike tour of the Franz Josef glacier. Land on top of the ice giant, jump out of the helicopter and follow your tour guide around the glacier, exploring the ice caves and taking in outstanding views.

After a long day on your feet, kick back and relax in the Franz Josef Glacier Pools. Soak away your aches and pains in the hot pools, surrounded by lush rainforest.

Stay at The Rainforest Retreat in Franz Josef, which offers a bar, restaurant, sauna and spa surrounded by forest greenery. It’s not hard to see why it’s rated as one of the best campsites in New Zealand.

Alternatively, you can stay at one of the other best West Coast campsites.

7. Fox Glacier

From Franz Josef, it’s only a few minutes drive down the West Coast until you reach Fox Glacier - another cosy township named after the nearby glacier that descends from the surrounding Southern Alps.

What makes Fox Glacier special is its temperate rainforest that sits 300m above sea level. Take a guided tour with a professional or follow your own self-guided tour along the Fox Glacier South Side Walkway (6.4km return). This walkway takes about 2 hours to complete and it follows the south bank of the Fox River through ancient rainforest before concluding with views over the glacier.

Another must-do in the Fox Glacier area is the easy Lake Matheson Walk (4.4km). The loop takes about 1.5-hours to complete. Nestled amongst a tall forest, you will see Aoraki Mount Cook in the distance, reflected in the dark brown waters of the lake. For the best photo opportunities, be sure to visit at dusk or dawn.

Stay at the Fox Glacier Top 10 Holiday Park and admire Aoraki Mount Cook from your campsite. The park offers a range of modern facilities including heated bathrooms, camp kitchens, a hot tub and much more.

8. Haast

On the southern end of New Zealand’s West Coast sits the town of Haast - recognised as the heart of the UNESCO Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area.

If you want to explore the rainforest that makes this part of the West Coast so special, try the Roaring Billy Falls Walk (1km return). This easy walk takes about 1-hour and leads you through a forest of ferns before bringing you to the broad Haast River. From here, you can see the powerful waterfalls cascade over a jumble of huge boulders.

Then change things up and see this UNESCO World Heritage Area from the water with a Waiatoto River Safari. This is the only ocean to alps river tour in New Zealand and it was voted by Lonely Planet as one of the top-rated boat tours in the country. Travel 16km upstream and make several stops along the way to learn about the natural wonders and visit a kiwi bird sanctuary.

Stay at the Haast River Holiday Park, a well-manicured campground with epic mountain views. Located near the river, it has all the facilities you need for a comfortable stay.

9. Wanaka

Leave the West Coast behind and drive through the scenic Haast Pass as you continue your road trip inland toward the iconic town of Wanaka.

Along the way, stop by Mount Aspiring National Park, which is host to the famous Blue Pools walking track (3km return). This walk takes about 1-hour as it winds its way through the forest and over the Makarora River, eventually bringing you to the deep pools that are filled with pure glacial water from the surrounding mountains.

Once you reach the town of Wanaka, spend the afternoon enjoying the local cafes and restaurants with great views of Lake Wanaka. At sunset, be sure to head to the edge of the lake for your chance to grab a photo of the iconic Wanaka Tree.

Stay at the highly-rated Wanaka Top 10 Holiday Park, which offers awesome amenities including a spa and sauna.

10. Queenstown

End your West Coast NZ road trip in Queenstown - the adventure capital of NZ!

Adrenaline junkies will want to make the most of the opportunities to go jet boating, skydiving or mountain biking. If you want to try bungy jumping, head to Kawarau Bridge Bungy (the place where bungy was invented). This famous 43m jump is nestled on the side of a rock face and plunges into the Kawarau River below.

If you prefer to take things slow, ride the Skyline Gondola (the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere) up to Bob’s Peak for panoramic views over the Remarkables Mountain Range. Then zoom back down the mountain on the Queenstown Luge , taking your pick of the leisurely track or the steeper green track.

Stay at the Queenstown Holiday Park & Motels Creeksyde, located close to the city centre and packed with facilities including a sauna and spa bath. We consider it to be one of the best caravan parks on the South Island.

If you want to continue your journey and see more of New Zealand, follow this South Island road trip which takes you onto sights like Milford Sound and Christchurch.

Want to reverse this West Coast NZ road trip itinerary? Find campervan hire in Queenstown!

Hire a campervan for your West Coast NZ road trip

You’re almost ready for an incredible West Coast NZ road trip. All that’s left to do is to arrange your wheels (and accommodation)!

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