Sights in The West Coast
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Gillespies Beach
From the highway, turn down Cook Flat Rd for its full 21km (unsealed for the final 12km) to the remote black-sand Gillespies Beach, site of an old mining settlement. Various interesting walks can be had from here, from a five-minute zip to the old miners' cemetery, to the 3½ hour return walk to Galway Beach where seals are wont to haul out. Don't disturb their lazing about.
reviewed
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Kowhitirangi
reviewed
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Hokitika Gorge
reviewed
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Fox Glacier Lookout
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Sentinel Rock
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Roberts Point
reviewed
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Peter's Pool
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Catholic Church
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Advertisement
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Alex Knob
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Lake Matheson
The famous 'mirror lake' can be found about 6km down Cook Flat Rd. Wandering slowly (as you should), it will take 1½ hours to complete the circuit. At the far end – on a clear day – you may, just may, get the money shot, but failing that you can buy a postcard at the excellent gift store in the car park. The best time to visit is early morning, or when the sun is low in the late afternoon, although the presence of the Matheson Café means that any time is a good time.
reviewed
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Glowworm Dell
Just north of town, a short stroll from SH6 leads to a Glowworm Dell, an easy opportunity to enter the other-wordly home of NZ's native fungus gnat lavae (so not even a worm at all) . An information panel at the entrance will further illuminate your way.
reviewed
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Pancake Rocks & Blowholes
Punakaiki is famous for its fantastic Pancake Rocks and blowholes. Through a layering-weathering process called stylobedding, the Dolomite Point limestone has formed into what looks like piles of thick pancakes. When the tide is right (tide times are posted at the visitor information centre), the sea surges into caverns and booms menacingly through blowholes. See it on a windy and wild day and be reminded that Mother Nature really is the boss. An easy 15-minute walk loops from the highway out to the rocks and blowholes.
reviewed