Travel map of the West Coast of the South Island

West Coast Travel Guide for Kiwis

20 Feb 2020
andrew w

The West Coast of the South Island is a stunning wilderness area of untouched natural beauty. With rugged coastline, pristine native forest and stunning mountain & glaciers, the West Coast is also home to rich Maori & European history as well as a friendly local population. 

Covering an approximate 500km stretch of winding roads and tiny townships, the West Coast can be something of a conundrum to visitors with limited time.  So we’ve put together your go-to guide for travelling the West Coast, covering all the key questions about where to visit, what to do, what to expect and what not to miss.

What's the best time to visit the West Coast?

Our mates on the Coast always tell us there is no bad time to visit! Late summer and early autumn (February - April) tends to have the most fine days with pleasant temperatures, while winter days will often start with frosts but clear into beautiful, clear and crisp afternoons. Spring (September – November) is typically the wettest season. Because of it's low altitude it very rarely snows on the coast and winter actually (June - August) has many sunny days.

Monthly temperature, rainfall and sunshine hours for the West Coast

When are you visiting? Temperature Range Average Rainfall Average Sunshine hours
January 12 - 20°C

248 mm

220
February 13 - 21°C 189 mm 187
March 11 - 19°C 216 mm 177
April 9 - 17°C 232 mm 147
May 6 - 14°C 237 mm 119
June 4 - 13°C 273 mm 99
July 3 - 12°C 218 mm 126
August 4 - 13°C 231 mm 137
September 6 - 14°C 260 mm 141
October 8 - 16°C 275 mm 168
November 10 - 17°C 225 mm 184
December 11 - 19°C

297 mm

189
Annual 3 - 21°C 2901 mm 1894

See updated West Coast weather information on Metservice

How long do I need to travel the West Coast?

Time always seems to be the most precious commodity when travelling nowadays and while it’s nice to think we could take weeks to explore a place like the West Coast but most of us have some constraints on our time.

We suggest spending three nights on the West Coast. This allows you to explore all the famous spots and a few more off the beaten track ones too, see much of the stunning coast road without hurrying and combine with other iconic South Island spots in a week or so. The coast can be explored in either direction but we like travelling from South to North, with a night in Franz Josef then two in Punakaiki to finish off before taking the scenic Arthur’s Pass route across to the east coast city of Christchurch.

Discover the West Coast with MoaTours

The West Coast of New Zealand is like nowhere else on earth and we consider ourselves incredibly lucky to have been showing travellers around the Coast for decades, sharing our favourite spots, unforgettable experiences and rich history. 

If the West Coast is on your bucket list you’ll love our 7 day Karamea & Wild West Coast Trails, a fully guided all inclusive small group tour of all the South Island’s West Coast's iconic spots, including Hokitika, Franz Josef, Punakaiki and Karamea. 

Our team of expert, friendly Kiwi guides will take care of you all the way as you explore the South Island with a small group of like-minded travellers. Get in touch with one of our friendly team to talk about your South Island trip now!

20 Feb 2020
andrew w
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