The West Coast of the Southern Alps - Part 2

The West Coast of the Southern Alps - Part 2

The Westport Karamea Buller area- is well known for its rich coal mining history in addition to its abundant unique natural attractions and its warm, mild weather. Take a detour and visit the noisy bluster of the seal colony at Cape Foulwind, or the beauty of Carters Beach near Westport. Karamea is a secluded haven, snuggled into the warm northwest corner of the South Island. Long empty beaches, river estuaries, incredible granite and limestone formations as well as tamarillos and fruit trees growing happily alongside Nikau Palms. It' s a great place for those seeking to ' get off the beaten track' . But don' t worry, there are still plenty of services including a general store, supermarket and service station and options. Apart from The Heaphy Track which is the perfect pick for families or those new to tramping, there are numerous other walking or biking trails.

The Great Coast Rd- Stunning Coastline and salty sea air. Wildlife abounds here so please keep an eye out on the roads at sunrise and sunset for the Blue Penguins, New Zealand' s smallest penguin. At night hear the sounds of the Roroa - NZ' s largest Kiwi.
Refton Gold- Reefton, on the Lewis Pass road and near Victoria Conservation Park (NZ' s largest), is well worth a stop and its claim to fame is an illuminating one – in 1888 it was the first town in the Southern Hemisphere to have electric streetlights! Now a curious mix of old and new, it' s still a preserve of historic charm. Relax as you stroll down the main street wandering in and out of shops that have purposely kept their early 1900' s feel, or put your feet up and stay a while in one of the Reefton accommodation options. There are shops, antique stores, a supermarket and dining in Reefton too.

The top ten free things to do on the West Coast:

1. You can walk a section of the Heaphy Track near Karamea. This is one of New Zealands great walks, with lush coastal beauty
2. Explore the Denniston plateau, enjoy the spectacular views and the mining history high up on the plateau.
3. Drive the Great coast road – west port to Greymouth, voted one of the top 10 coastal drives in the world by Lonely Planet.
4. Visit the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki. These are ancient limestone pancake shaped rocks.
5. Visit the bearded miners in Refflon – unique long bearded locals.
6. Cycle a section of the Wilderness trail. An easy 4 day cycle between Greymouth and Ross via Karamea.
7. Visit the Hokitika Gorge to see the deep turquoise water in a silver granite gorge.
8. Walk the glacial valleys at either Franz Josef or Fox glacier. These are two of the most accessible glaciers in the world.
9. The “View of Views”, visit lake Mathisson which reflects New Zealand’s highest mountains including Mount Cook.
10. And finally stop at the Gates of Haast and the Blue pools, for some o the best photo stops on the coast.

This is a small part of New Zealand’s beauty, a good quality camera required! ! ENJOY the scenery