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If you’re heading to the West Coast, you don’t have to disappear into the bush for eight hours to see what the region has to offer. Some of the best walks on the West Coast can be done in just an hour or two.
Here at Greymouth Seaside TOP 10 Holiday Park, we’re perfectly positioned for those looking for short walks near Greymouth that get you amongst native forest, alongside turquoise rivers and out onto the wild coastline, without taking up your entire day.
So stay a few days, and you can pick where to go based on the weather, the tide and how energetic everyone’s feeling that morning. Some are over in 20 minutes. Others are just enough of a challenge to make you feel like you’ve earned your lunch.
West Coast short walks at a glance
Top tip: Keep a raincoat and decent footwear in the car, even if you wake up to blue skies. Our weather can change in the blink of an eye. Take water and a few snacks too, as there’s not always somewhere handy to grab supplies.
Point Elizabeth Walkway
If you ask around for a good walk near Greymouth, there’s a fair chance someone will send you to Point Elizabeth. The track takes you through some impressive coastal forest, including nīkau palms, rimu, kahikatea and miro, before reaching the headland.
The full Point Elizabeth Walkway runs 5.5 km between Cobden and Rapahoe, following an old water race once used by gold miners. You don’t need to walk the whole thing, though. For a shorter version, walk out to the Point Elizabeth lookout and return the way you came.
From the lookout, you can see along the rocky coastline and out across the Tasman Sea. Keep an eye on the water too. Dolphins are sometimes spotted offshore.
DOC describes the track as family-friendly, and it’s mostly well surfaced and fairly level. There are exposed drops beside parts of the track though, so we'd keep younger children close rather than letting them charge off ahead.
Top tip: If you start or finish at the Rapahoe end and the tide is low, head down to Rapahoe Beach for a wander before getting back in the car. It's a nice little extra but not a walk that warrants a trip of its own.
Woods Creek Track
Woods Creek is the one to choose if you like a walk with a story behind it. This 1.1 km loop winds through native forest past the remains of 19th-century gold workings. There are old tailraces, dams and walls of carefully stacked stone still sitting amongst the bush, and even tunnels dug by miners that you can walk through.
DOC puts the walk at under 45 minutes, although we'd leave yourself closer to an hour if you want to stop and have a proper look around. There are some steep steps and uneven sections, so despite its short distance, Woods Creek isn't a good option for wheelchairs or anyone who struggles with stairs.
Oh, and getting there is half the adventure. The last stretch of road is gravel and feels increasingly remote, to the point where you may start wondering whether you've missed a turn. Keep going. Unless you’re in a campervan, in which case it’s worth reconsidering. DOC doesn’t recommend the final 10 km of gravel road for campervans.
Top tip: Bring a proper torch along. Your phone light might technically do the job, but this is one occasion where it’s best to have the real thing.
Hokitika Gorge Walk
You've probably seen photographs of Hokitika Gorge before you arrive on the West Coast. And it’s not all filters, the colour of the water really can look like that.
Glacial flour suspended in the Hokitika River gives it its distinctive blue-green colour, with dense native forest running right down towards the gorge. From the car park, it's only around four minutes to the first viewing platform, so you can see the gorge without committing to the full walk.
If you keep going though, you’ll be rewarded. Another few minutes takes you to the first swing bridge, then continues through the forest to the second viewing platform and upper 90-metre suspension bridge before looping back to the car park. Allow closer to two hours if you want to complete the whole thing without rushing.
The first viewing platform is wheelchair accessible, and there are shorter options for families who don't want to complete the loop.
Hokitika Gorge is about 30 minutes inland from Hokitika itself, so if you're driving down from Greymouth, leave enough time to stop in and take a look around the town too.
Top tip: As tempting as it might be, we wouldn't recommend swimming. The water might look inviting, but the Hokitika River is cold, swift and has strong currents and sudden drop-offs. Stick to admiring this one from dry land.
Pancake Rocks & Blowholes Walk, Punakaiki
If this is your first visit to the West Coast, you’ve got to put Pancake Rocks on your list.
The 1.1 km loop at Dolomite Point only takes around 20 minutes if you walk straight around, although we'd allow longer because there are lots of places you'll want to stop.
The track winds between limestone formations weathered into the distinctive layers that give the Pancake Rocks their name. Below, the Tasman Sea surges through caverns and channels in the rock, and when conditions are right, all that water and compressed air shoots upwards through the blowholes.
Most of the walk can be accessed by wheelchair with assistance, although an optional section has steps. If you're visiting with children, keep them with you, particularly where the return track comes out near the highway.
It’s also worth knowing that DOC charges for parking at Pancake Rocks ($2.50 per half hour or $20 for the day at time of writing). Check DOC for current rates before you visit.
Top tip: High tide gives you the best chance of seeing the blowholes in action, particularly if there's a decent south-westerly swell, although we’re talking about nature, so it’s never guaranteed. If you're planning your day around it, check the tide times and aim to arrive around 30-60 minutes before high tide.
Truman Track
Just a few kilometres north of Pancake Rocks, Truman Track squeezes a surprising amount of West Coast into a very short walk.
The track runs for around 700 metres through subtropical forest, with rātā, podocarps, vines and nīkau palms overhead. Then the trees give way to cliffs and the Tasman Sea, with a staircase leading down towards a rock-strewn beach.
It's an easy walk and a good one with kids, but only head down if the tide is out and the sea is behaving itself. At high tide or in rough conditions, waves can reach the cliffs, making the beach too dangerous to explore. Even at low tide, keep kids close and stay back from the water's edge and cliff faces.
If you have the choice, we'd combine Truman Track with Pancake Rocks while you're already up this way. They're only a few kilometres apart and give you two quite different walks without adding another big drive to your day.
Top tip: Take the insect repellent. Sandflies appreciate a nice West Coast beach just as much as we do.
Pororari River Track
If the 20-minute walks have left your legs wanting more of a good stretch, head to the Pororari River Track.
This is the pedestrian entrance to the Paparoa Track Great Walk, but you don't need a hut booking or a multi-day pack to get a taste of it. From the car park, the track follows the Pororari River into a limestone gorge surrounded by lush forest and nīkau palms.
After about 15 minutes you'll reach a seat and lookout over the river and cliffs. Turn around, and you've got yourself an excellent half-hour walk. But if you've got more time and energy, keep going.
Beyond the lookout, the track gets narrower and a bit steeper. This section is subject to rockfalls, so keep moving rather than stopping beneath the cliffs. A few minutes farther on is a suspension bridge that makes a good turnaround point before retracing your steps.
Top tip: Do check the weather first. Heavy rain can make parts of the Pororari River Track impassable, and this is one West Coast walk where changing conditions are worth taking seriously.
And remember, leave the West Coast as you found it
Part of enjoying these places is making sure the next person gets to find them the same way you did. Follow the old rule, take nothing but photos and leave nothing but footprints.
Respecting our environment can be as simple as sticking to the path, taking your rubbish with you and leaving rocks, plants and other bits of nature where you found them.
The West Coast still feels untouched, and you can help keep it that way.
Which West Coast walk should you choose?
If you've only got time for one and you've never been to the West Coast before, we'd make it Pancake Rocks.
For families wanting a quick walk to help wear out the kids, Truman Track or a visit to Hokitika Gorge are always winners.
And if you're interested in the Coast's gold-mining past, go to Woods Creek.
But why pick just one?
Where to stay while you explore
One of the advantages of staying in Greymouth is that you don't need to pack your bags every morning to see a different part of the Coast.
Base yourself here for a few nights and you can head north one day, then south the next. And there are plenty of things to do around Greymouth itself if your idea of a good walk that day is strolling to the nearest cafe for a local flat white.
We’ve got accommodation in Greymouth for every kind of traveller. Camp or park up on one of our powered or non-powered camping sites, book one of our cabins, motel rooms or self-contained units, or spread out in one of our seaview apartments.
Come back after your walk, get the wet gear through the laundry if the weather caught you out, make some dinner and decide where you're heading tomorrow.
Now that’s a holiday.
FAQs about short walks on the West Coast
Which West Coast walks are best for children?
Most of the walks on this list can be done with children, but if you're travelling with younger children, Pancake Rocks and the short version of the Hokitika Gorge are the best choices.
What should I take on a short walk on the West Coast?
Even for a short walk, we'd take a waterproof jacket, water and decent shoes. Insect repellent is handy, particularly around bush and coastal areas. If you're heading away from townships, take snacks too rather than assuming you'll find somewhere to buy them.
Can you do these walks when it's raining?
In the West Coast, you get used to the mindset of “do it wet”. A bit of rain doesn't rule much out, and actually, the bush can be particularly beautiful after rain. Conditions matter more on tracks beside rivers, beaches or exposed coastline. Check DOC alerts and the weather before setting out, particularly for Pororari River Track, and don't access the beach at Truman Track in rough seas.
What's the best short walk near Greymouth?
Point Elizabeth Walkway would be our pick if you want something close to town. The walk combines native coastal forest with views over the Tasman Sea, and you can walk as far as the lookout and return rather than completing the entire 5.5 km track.