Destination-New Zealand-The West Coast

Destination New Zealand/ Aotearoa - Land of the long white cloud. The west coast of New Zealand is defiantly one place worth checking out. Surrounding the West coast, is an array of lush scenery, accompanied by many outdoor activities for your entertainment. The west coast of N.Z is lined by beach front and is rich with native plants, including, the manuka tree, the kowhai tree, the pohutukawa tree, flax, the toe toe, the fern, the nikau palm, and much more. Amongst the native plants, you will discover some of N.Z's many native birds. You may have heard of the Kiwi, the kakapo and the kokako, as these birds are somewhat famous due to their exsistences' being on the brink of extinction. These birds are quite rare, but you might be lucky enough to see one if you take advantage of exploring the bushes on one of the day walks/ few day hikes, that N.Z has to offer. Some native birds of N.Z that you can expect to see are the fantail/Piwakawaka, the weka, the Tui/Bell-bird, The Grey Warbler/Riroriro, The Red -Billed gull/ Tarapunga, and the More-pork/Ruru.

Over night hikes and day-walks.

The Heaphy track - Karamea - Westport: This popular tramp expands over 82km of various landscape, and generally takes 4-5 days walking to get to the end. Various sceneries along the heaphy track walk way consist of beaches, Forrest, rivers, wide open space, mountains, and valleys. The track also includes long swing bridges and 3 huts along the way. If you are physically up to this challenge, it's great way to enjoy the beauty of N.Z.

Franz Josef Heli Hike- Witness the mighty glaciers of the west coast up close, among ice caves and pinnacles along this guided alpine tour. This tour is a 2-3 hour hike, which requires a level of average fitness. For those less energetic, there is a scenic helicopter tour available so all can observe the glacier ice formations. Franz Josef also offer other hikes of which all vary in duration, so you have a selection of glacier hikes to choose from to best suit your fitness level.

Short walks - Punakaiki - Punakaiki River to Pororari River Loop, Pororari River Track to Bullock Creek Loop.

Day walks - Punakaiki - The mount Bovis walk extends across 1252m of great southern land, where you will dicover fascinating views over the Paparoa Range. This walk involves moderate to steep climbs, and is best suited to those of fair fitness levels.

The Cave Creek walk will take you on a journey to the cave creek resurgence, of where the creek begins, emerging from underground caves. Cave exploring opportunities are also plentiful and well known in the Punakaiki area.

Surf destination.

Tauranga bay and 9mile beach - Cape Foulwind - Westport.
These two beaches are just around the corner from each other, as they clash and run together at a point. Tauranga bay is a suitable place to swim, (sometimes), and is safer for surfing than 9 mile beach. Beware that the beaches of the west coast of N.Z are known to thrive with rips from time to time. So if you decide to go for a swim or a surf, it's wise to acknowledge whether anyone else is on the beach or not. If not, that's a fair indication that the sea isn't safe. 9 mile beach is for experienced surfers only.

See other fun things to do for information about the seal colony at Tauranga bay.

Sight seeing.

Pancake rocks - Punakaiki - They got their name for the reason that they look like many pancakes stacked atop of one-anonther. These rocks are a gathering of formations, of which stand on the edge of the sea. The pancake rocks also feature blow holes, and native scenery along the walkway. Opposite the walkway entrance you will find a cafe, and a high-quality gift store where you can purchase a selection of items from green-stone jewelery, to novelty mugs. Accommodation and other outdoor activities are near-by. See other fun things to do.

Adventure tours.

Buller adventure tours- Westport & Punakaiki- Paparoa National Park: The guided activities that Buller adventure tours have to offer are: Horse trekking, Quad- bike rides, white water rafting and jet boat tours.

Horse trekking is suitable for both experienced riders and those whom have never ridden a horse. The trek is situtaed amongst native bush, which leads to a sandy river side beach where the experienced riders, or those who are keen, have the opportunity to experience the thrill of picking up speed on a horse.

Quad-bike riding is again, suited to riders of all ability. This tour includes creek crossings, bush trails, beaches, and moderate to steep climbs.

White water rafting down the Buller rivers grade 3&4 rapids is a truly thrilling experience. If your a bit of a dare-devil, this tour also includes optional rafting challenges, such as a 9meter cliff jump. When you arrive at the mouth of the river, the day is then summed up nicely with a river-side sausage sizzle.

The jet boat tour will take you along the lower buller gorge, surrounded buy giant rock faces and native bush. From shallow shingle river beds to powering up stream with the force of 800 horse power, this tour is one to be done by thrill seekers and scenery lovers.

Other fun things to do.

The seal colony- Tauranga bay - This exbhidition consists of a short up-hill walk to a lookout where you are standing out over rocks scattered with seals. These rocks are breeding grounds and home to these seals. There is a track reffered to locally as the 'light house walk', which lies near the seal colony lookout. I'm not sure whether it's obvious or not, that this track leads to a light-house. This walk takes about an hour and half to two hours, there and back. The walking track extends along the edge of a cliff face, crashing waves against the jaggered rocks below. Here the air is crisp and the sight is one worth seeing.
See eating out for more Tauranga bay.

Whale watching- Kaikoura - Giant sperm whales populate the off shores of Kaikoura all year round, of which you are most likely to see on this tour. Depending on the season, other whales to be seen are the Humpback whale, Blue whales, Pilot Whales and Southern Right whales. Also there is the Orca, or Killer whale, which is in fact, actually the worlds biggest dolphin. Other sea-mammals that you may be fortunate enough to encounter are Fur seals, Pods of Dusky dolphins, and Hector dolphins, which are the smallest dolphins in the world

Swimming with dolphins - Kaikoura- This sure sounds like a lovely idea, but apparently it's an at your own risk type deal. Although this activity belongs to an established business of 20years, the dolphins are not trained nor fed by the guides of this activity, nor the people who run the operation. So the Dusky dolphins are totally wild, yet apparently, delightful characters. Snorkels and wetsuits are provided, if your game enough to get in the water with them without any guarantees. I don't know how likely it is that a dolphin will attack you, but given that the business has been running for the past 20 years, i would assume that the chances are slim to none.

Caving - Norwest Adventures Ltd - Charleston - Buller: These guided tours feature the magnificant Nile river caves of the West coast, which offer three options: an 'underworld rafting' experience, a glow worm cave tour - which involves a 2 hour hike, and an 'adventure caving' tour for the thrill seekers.

Gold & gem mining - Fox river - Punakaiki - If you can manage to attain a 'gold pan', fox river is an ideal place to utilise it. Flakes of gold and garnets can be found in this river.

Shanty-town - Greymouth - Here you can learn about the history of the west coast, featuring gold and coal mining. This place is ideal for a kids day out also.

Eating out.

The Bay house- Tauranga bay - The bay house cafe/ restaurant is situated atop a rocky steeple of which looks out over the sea. This place has a lot of character and history which make is a truly unique experience. The restaurant was originily built as a holiday batch in 1929, and became the club-house of local surfers in the early 1960's , until 1995 when the house was bought by a surfer whom of which was also a well respected baker. It was then that the beach house was established as a cafe. The bay house menu specializes in sea-food, of which is sourced locally, along with locally grown produce. Various dishes are seasoned with traditional and exotic seasonings of the pacific nations.