If you’re planning a South Island road trip, we’d recommend allowing at least five to seven days for the West Coast. You can tick off some of the big attractions in three or four, but you’ll spend a fair chunk of that time stuck in the car.
The West Coast rewards those who can slow their pace and take in the sights around them. Because, while most itineraries are built around landmarks like Punakaiki and the glaciers, there are also beaches, lakes, bush walks and historic towns along the way, which you’ll only get to experience if you’ve got enough time to stop and take a look around.
Our advice? Don’t spend every morning packing the car and every afternoon checking into somewhere new. Pick a couple of well-positioned places to stay and explore from there.
If you only have 2–3 days: Keep moving
Two or three days will give you a taste of the West Coast, but you’ll need to be selective about what makes the shortlist.
If you’re travelling south, you could take in Punakaiki and the Pancake Rocks, stop in Greymouth, explore Hokitika and then continue towards Franz Josef or Fox Glacier. Coming north, reverse the route.
It’s doable, but there won’t be much room for detours. Stop for a longer-than-planned lunch or decide you fancy one of those walks you keep passing signs for, and you’ll find yourself spending your holiday stressed about the schedule.
If you have 4–5 days: Give yourself a base
With another couple of days up your sleeve, you can set up a base and see more of the Coast. This is where Greymouth campgrounds come into their own. Set yourself up in a tent, cabin or motel unit for a few nights and you can take short day trips to Punakaiki to the north, Hokitika to the south and Lake Brunner inland.
Head north to Punakaiki
Punakaiki is around 45 minutes north of Greymouth, so there’s no need to pack your bags just to visit the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes.
Allow time to explore beyond the main attraction too. There are beaches, bush walks and tracks around the area, including the Truman Track and Pororari River Track. If you’re happy with a longer day on the road, you could continue north towards Westport before heading back to Greymouth.
Then come home, put your feet up and congratulate yourself on not having to unpack another suitcase.
Spend a day around Hokitika
Head in the opposite direction, and you’ll be in Hokitika in 30 minutes. Wander through town, visit the galleries and studios, check out the famous driftwood sign on Hokitika Beach, then head inland to see the turquoise waters of Hokitika Gorge.
If you have more time, Lake Kaniere and the West Coast Treetop Walk are both easy additions to this side of your itinerary.
Stay closer to Greymouth
Driving might be an inevitable part of a South Island road trip, but that doesn’t mean every day needs to involve hours behind the wheel.
Spend some time exploring Greymouth itself, including the Pounamu Pathway and Shantytown, then head home for sunset at the beach.
Lake Brunner is around half an hour inland at Moana, giving you another easy day trip without having to move camp. Or get out on the West Coast Wilderness Trail, which begins here in Greymouth.
If you have 5–7 days: Add Glacier Country
If you really want to slow down and see the region, five to seven nights is the sweet spot. After your stop in Greymouth to explore the central Coast, pack up and continue south towards Glacier Country.
Franz Josef is around two hours and 15 minutes south of Greymouth, so while it’s technically possible as a day trip, we wouldn’t recommend spending four or five hours in the car when you don’t have to. This is where it makes sense to move on and stay closer to the glaciers.
Depending on your plans, you could spend another night or two around Franz Josef or Fox Glacier before continuing south towards Haast and Wānaka.
The difference is that instead of moving from Punakaiki to Greymouth, Greymouth to Hokitika, Hokitika to Franz Josef and Franz Josef to Fox Glacier, you’ve used fewer bases and explored the areas around them.
That’s particularly useful if you’re camping. Nobody needs to start every day of their holiday by rolling up sleeping bags and arguing about whose job it is to take down the tent.
Got longer? Head further north
If you have a week or more, you can start adding some of the places that sit beyond the main Punakaiki-to-glaciers route.
Coming down the Coast from the north, spend time around Westport and explore the old mining settlement at Denniston. Head further north again and you can make your way to Karamea and the Ōpārara Basin, which has stunning limestone arches and rainforest.
Reefton is another worthwhile detour, particularly if you’re interested in the Coast’s gold-mining history.
All of these additions are a little further off the beaten trail, which is why we’d give them their own time rather than trying to squeeze them into an already packed five-day itinerary.
Heading south? There’s plenty beyond the glaciers too
Your West Coast trip doesn’t have to finish at Franz Josef! Fox Glacier, Ōkārito and Haast can all be added as you continue south, before the road eventually takes you inland towards Wānaka.
Again, give yourself time. One of the easiest ways to turn a good West Coast road trip into an exhausting one is to try to push past one more town before dinner.
Why we recommend staying put for a few nights
If you’re staying in hotels or motels, a whirlwind itinerary isn’t such a big deal. If you’re camping, that’s another story.
Even on a clear day, after a great night sleep, taking down the tent or packing up your campervan setup, securing everything for the road, driving to the next destination and doing the whole thing again when you arrive can get wearing. Add tired kids or bad weather into the equation and you risk resenting the whole holiday altogether.
Staying in one campground for a few nights gives you a reprieve. You can leave your tent pitched, unpack properly, put a load of washing on and head out for the day with only what you need.
Greymouth Seaside TOP 10 is one of the easiest places to stop on a West Coast trip, with a huge range of accommodation types, including powered and non-powered camping sites. If sleeping under canvas isn’t your idea of a good time, there are also motel units and self-contained seaview apartments, including larger options for families and groups.
You’ll have access to the park facilities while you’re here, including communal kitchen and dining areas, guest laundry, BBQ areas, free WiFi and campervan facilities. Stay for a few nights, leave everything unpacked and explore a different part of the Coast each day.
So, how many days should you spend on the West Coast?
If you’re still staring at your itinerary trying to make the numbers work, here’s our take:
2–3 days: Enough for a fast trip through some of the main attractions, but expect plenty of driving.
4–5 days: A good option if you want to base yourself centrally for a few nights and explore Punakaiki, Greymouth and Hokitika.
5–7 days: Our recommendation for seeing the central West Coast and Glacier Country at a relaxed pace.
7+ days: Give yourself room to head further north towards Westport and Karamea, further south towards Haast, or spend longer in the places you enjoy most.
However many days you have, you don’t need to spend every one of them moving. Pick your bases well, leave some gaps in the itinerary, and give yourself time to see what’s beyond the next bend.
Take the next step and see if your dates are available at Greymouth Seaside TOP 10 Holiday Park.