Things to do in The West Coast
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Bushmans Centre
The Bushmans Centre is an overly rustic cafe-shop with a pathological distrust of possums, animal rights activists and Aucklanders. Inside is a souvenir shop and the Bushmans Museum, laying on blokey bush humour with a 20-minute video on local industry, anti-possum displays and some giant eels. The cafe offers snacks like possum jerky, possum pie and possum pâté. Outside in a paddock are chamois and thar that look happier than the caged possums inside.
reviewed
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Heli Hiking Franz Josef
by Viator
Combine a scenic helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier with a two-hour guided walk amongst the ice caves, pinnacles and seracs of New Zealand's South Islan…Not LP reviewed
from USD$300.72 -
‘Friends of the Hill’ Museum
North along SH67, the road is pressed against the rocky shoreline by verdant hills. The first town beyond Westport is Waimangaroa, where there’s a turn-off to Denniston, 9km inland and 600m above sea level. Denniston was once NZ’s largest coal producer, with 1500 residents in 1911. An information kiosk and the ‘Friends of the Hill’ museum here bring to life the harsh conditions experienced by the miners and their families. Four kilometres north of Waimangaroa is the Britannia Track (four hours return), winding towards the Britannia Battery’s gold-mining detritus.
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Barrytown Knifemaking
Steve used to design women’s lingerie, but now he runs one of the South Island’s most surprising attractions, Barrytown Knifemaking. Put aside a day (9.30am to 3.30pm) as Steve and wife Robyn steer you through the process of making your own knife. It's the whole shebang here, from hand-forging the blade to crafting a handle from native rimu timber. Between the knifemaking, there’s lunch, archery, axe-throwing lessons, and a stream of entertainingly bad jokes from Steve. Bookings recommended and transport can be arranged from Greymouth or Punakaiki.
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Franz Josef Glacier Guides
Small group walks with experienced guides (boots, jackets and equipment supplied) are offered by Franz Josef Glacier Guides. Half-/full-day walks are $105/160 per adult (slightly cheaper for children). Full-day trips have around six hours on the ice, half-day trips up to two hours. Full-day ice-climbing trips ($250 including training) and three-hour helihikes with two hours on the ice ($390) are also available. Helihikes take you further up the glacier to explore blue-ice caves, seracs and pristine ice formations.
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Norwest Adventures
From Charleston, south of Westport, Norwest Adventures runs cave-rafting trips (Underworld Rafting, $145, four hours) into the glowworm-filled Nile River Caves. If you want the glow without the flow (no rafting), it’s $90 per person. Both options start with a rainforest railway ride, available separately (adult/child $20/15, 1½ hours). The Adventure Caving trip ($295, five hours) includes a 30m abseil into Te Tahi tomo (hole) with rock squeezes, waterfalls, prehistoric fossils and trippy cave formations.
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Charleston European Tavern
Charleston, 28km south of Westport, boomed during the 1860s gold rush, with 80 hotels, three breweries, and hundreds of thirsty gold-diggers staking claims along the Nile River. The only pub left is the Charleston European Tavern, now doing double-duty as a cafe during the day and a boozer at night. It’s the base for underground, water-laden trips offered by Norwest Adventures.
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Across Country Quad Bikes
Fast-paced (and certainly noisy) are the four-wheeled outings from Across Country Quad Bikes. Rockin’ and rollin’ rainforest quad-bike trips (two hours, adult/child $150/75) are joined by off-road adventures on 8WD Argo amphibious vehicles (one hour, $60). Heliquad adventures (2½ hours, $395) traverse the mountains and coastline by air before taking on a remote West Coast beach.
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Twin Glacier Helicopter Flight departing Franz Josef
by Viator
Fly over two of New Zealand's most famous glaciers on this 30-minute helicopter flight.
Marvel at the mantle of pure white snow as you land at the head of either…Not LP reviewed
from USD$216.98 -
Franz Josef Mountain Scenic Helicopter Flight
by Viator
Experience two of New Zealand's finest National Parks, divided by the imposing Southern Alps. Discover the gigantic expanse of the Franz Josef and Fox Glacier s…Not LP reviewed
from USD$300.72 Advertisement
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Frank’s Late Night Lounge
Effortlessly cool and retro late-night lounge-bar-cafe. A mirror ball hovers blithely above rescued 1950s furniture while Sinatra and Dean Martin bubble away as the soundtrack. An eclectic list of teas and NZ’s best boutique beers partner a small global menu with surprises like Tibetan momos (dumplings) and Moroccan fish. Occasional live gigs complete the picture.
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Skydive Glacier Country
With Fox Glacier’s backdrop of Southern Alps, rainforest and ocean, it’s hard to imagine a better place to jump out of a plane. Skydive Glacier Country is a professional outfit that challenges Isaac Newton with thrilling leaps from 12,000ft ($295) or 9000ft ($245). Digitise your terror with a DVD/photograph package ($180/35). Smile as you scream.
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Priya’s
If you’re in dire need of a curry fix this is your best option in town. The atmosphere leaves much to be desired – harsh overhead fluorescent lights and a mini-bar with all the ambience of a takeaway-shop waiting area. The food on the other hand is full of flavour. Mouth- (and eye-) watering curries are the house speciality and they don’t disappoint.
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Jade Country Greymouth
Jade Country Greymouth has original jade jewellery costing from $30 to thousands of dollars. There’s a walk-through Jade Trail display on the precious pounamu, and the Jade Boulder Café serves organic coffee, whitebait and other ‘wild food’ that’s more difficult to catch.
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Glacier Hot Pools
Glacier Hot Pools is a welcome addition to town, setting a new standard for outdoor thermal bathing. Carved from the rainforest, this series of hot pools is the perfect après-hike or rainy-day activity. There are private pools ($40 per 45 minutes) and massages ($80 per half-hour) on offer if you want to really indulge.
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Craypot
Dining at the Craypot, is more than a classic Kiwi dining experience – it’s verging upon essential. So fresh it was swimming yesterday fish and chips, whitebait sandwiches and mixed grills are served up in an absolute waterfront location. The rustic old caravan with views of snowy peaks is pretty hard to beat.
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Denniston Dog Saloon
Lots of wild West Coast wood and Kiwiana antiques give the Denniston Dog a rustic air. Then again, a couple of beers, some tasty scallops and a good steak probably have the same effect. ‘The Dog’ is both bar and restaurant. After you’re watered and fed, take the locals on at pool. Occasional touring bands raise the roof.
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Cafe de Paris
This oh-so-French café is very popular, but we were underwhelmed when we visited for dinner. Breakfast, lunch or coffee and delicious cakes at any time are excellent, but later at night their Gallic culinary aspirations can exceed their abilities in the kitchen. On Saturday nights there's live music from 19:00.
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Fox Glacier and Mount Cook Helicopter Flight
by Viator
Depart Fox Glacier Village, fly over the legendary Fox Glacier and snowfields and watch the crevasses and ice forms race by below you. Land in the snow above th…Not LP reviewed
from USD$216.98 -
Alfresco
With a family bistro atmosphere, Alfresco serves up meat and seafood grills and a half-dozen tasty pizzas. There are gas heaters or tables inside if the alfresco gets too fresco. They also have charming accommodation in the adjacent building – a double room will run you $60 to $120 and you won’t be disappointed.
reviewed
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Bay House Cafe
One of NZ’s best restaurants, the Bay House Cafe is sophisticated without being stuffy. The chefs use local ingredients like pikopiko (fern shoots) and horopito (NZ peppertree) in preparing seafood, West Coast venison and Canterbury lamb. The wine list is easily the best on the West Coast.
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Franz Josef Neve Discoverer Helicopter Flight
by Viator
The perfect opportunity to get up close to the glacier and touch snow. You'll be captivated as you lift off and fly up and over Fox Glacier and experience the s…Not LP reviewed
from USD$163.68 -
Shantytown
Providing context for West Coast history, Shantytown, 8km south of Greymouth and 3km inland from SH6, recreates an 1860s gold-mining town, complete with post office, pub and Rosie’s House of Ill Repute. There’s gold panning ($5 extra for adults), trains to ride, and a sawmill.
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Salmon Farm Café & Shop
Like some sort of gigantic edible aquarium, the fish ponds at the Salmon Farm Café & Shop are teaming with lunch, err, fish. The cafe serves salmon-filled omelettes, platters, pastas and fresh pâté. It’s $1 to feed the fish, but the plump little buggers don’t look hungry.
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Bonz ‘N’ Stonz
You can dabble in jade carving with Steve Gwaliasi at Bonz ‘N’ Stonz. Design, carve and polish your own jade, bone or paua masterpiece. Prices vary with materials and design complexity, and bookings are recommended in summer – allow four hours to create your wearable art.
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