Wild West Coast

Queenstown

Once landed your tour leader will help you collect your luggage and load up the coach. We then make our way into Queenstown and check in to our excellent lakeside accommodation. You will have some free time to explore the lakeside town or the nearby botanical gardens before meeting back for a delicious group meal.

Accommodation: Heartland Hotel

Haast

We then hit the road to tackle the Hasst Pass and after we pass through the Gates of Haast we stop to view Thunder Creek Falls before continuing following the Hasst River to the coast.

When we arrive in Haast we visit the great DOC office to view the informative displays on the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area. We arrive at our hotel with plenty of time to unwind and settle in for our first night on the coast enjoying another lovely group dinner.

Accommodation: Heartland hotel

Haast (September 20th)

Another relaxing start to the day before we take a short drive south to the Waiatoto River. Here we gear up and board NZ’s top-rated Jet Boat tour taking a river safari up a remote back country river into UNESCO World Heritage area (suitable for all ages). We learn about the pioneering spirit of days gone by, early Maori history and later, the harshness of the wilderness that faced the European settlers.  There is an optional walk through ancient beech forest untouched by man for thousands of years before we sit down to enjoy a true West Coast style BBQ lunch.

After this exciting morning we slow the pace and carry on south to the end of the road to the fishing village of Jackson Bay. This bay is splendidly isolated - there are more resident seals and penguins than people. We take in the scenery while we wander the village before making our way back to our accommodation. Dinner is at the hotel again tonight.

Accommodation: Heartland hotel

Franz Joseph

When we are all back together, we head over the ranges to Franz Joseph which is where we spend the night. You will have some time to enjoy the great surrounding of our accommodation, wander the town or visit the fabulous West Coast Wildlife Centre.

After a great group dinner, you also have the chance to soak in the Glacier Hot Pools which are nestled in lush rainforest and are a haven of natural tranquility, a great way to finish the day.

Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat

Hokitika

After enjoying our lunch, we are back on the road taking in the magnificent scenery to another great West Coast attraction, the West Coast Treetop Walkway. A great treetop adventure among temperate rainforest giants. Experience life with the birds, high in the ancient Rimu and Kamahi tree canopy. Easy access for all to enjoy along a steel platform 20 metres high and over 450 metres long.

For those not wishing to experience the area in the tree tops you can enjoy it with both feet on the ground and relax in the on-site café. After it is just a short drive into Hokitika where we will do a quick tour of the town and give you a chance to visit one of the Pounamu factories, before arriving at our great beach front hotel in time to watch the sun set on this great day. Dinner is on-site at the hotel.

Accommodation: Beach Front Hotel

Westport

We then leave the main highway and head out to Cape Foulwind stopping first at Tauranga Bay. There is a short walk which leads to a viewpoint overlooking a New Zealand fur seal/kekeno breeding colony. We then head around to the northern end and give you the opportunity to walk to the lighthouse before making our way into Westport. We’ll head out to a great local restaurant for dinner.

Accommodation: Buller Court

Westport (September 24th)

A relaxed start to the morning while we wait to be collected for the truly unique Denniston Plateau tour, where we get well off the beaten track. We travel with the only company with access to the area in specialised 4-wheel drive Unimog vehicles. 

After a 20 minute drive north from Westport we arrive at Conns Creek located in the spectacular Waimangaroa River gorge. Here coal wagons that came down the famous Denniston Incline arrived at the rail line.

Then it’s onto the winding road up the coastal escarpment with great views to the coast below. Arriving at Denniston, 600 metres above sea level, we take time to view the coal mining relics and excellent information panels at the top of the Denniston Incline. Look down the incline to Conns Creek and be amazed at the steep grade. A short walk through lush forest leads to a clearing where the Banbury Arch, a man-made arch on the old rope road, comes into view.

We then drive through the remnants of the once thriving town of Denniston.  Not much is left here but 100 years ago Denniston and the adjacent settlements of Burnetts Face and Coalbrookdale had a population of 2,000. Only a few people live on the plateau now.  The Friends of the Hill museum is our next stop and here we have lunch and inspect more information about life at Denniston in its heyday.

From the museum we travel across the rocky sandstone plateau and above the extensive underground mines. The Unimog then climbs up to Mt Rochfort (1040 metres above sea level) from where superb panoramic scenery to the coast below and the rugged mountains to the east is viewed.

Departing Mt Rochfort, we travel back across the plateau and then down the escarpment arriving back at Westport 45 mins later Make sure you have your camera! We have lunch in this relaxed setting with a cup of Billy tea before making our way back to Westport.

This afternoon we visit the must see Coaltown Museum. Coaltown is a newly configured Heritage Experience dedicated to the story of industry and development in this unique Northern West Coast environment and of those who came here in search of a better life.

Opened in 2013 the Museum will take you on a journey through gold rush days to the settling of the district and the early development of our mining industry, the lifestyle and living conditions of its people, the geology of coal, extraction and transport systems, to port and shipping developments serving our coal and cement industries. Dinner tonight will be at a highly rated local restaurant.

Accommodation: Buller Court

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Nelson

Continuing along SH6 we reach Nelson stopping at the Nelson Classic Car Museum. Here you can relive your own memories of your first car or your dream car, with 150 immaculate cars from more than 100 years of motoring. This is also where we will have lunch then we head out and enjoy a city highlights tour, covering locations as Tahunanui Beach, Queens Gardens, Centre of New Zealand and Christ Church Cathedral. Our final group dinner is on-site at the hotel restaurant.

Accommodation: The Hotel Nelson

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*If you are travelling to other parts of the country all arrangements will be made for you.