The West Coast Trail is a walking adventure that departs from Christchurch and takes you on a discovery of the alpine pass area through to the Wild West Coast of New Zealand. With four days of unique walks, you experience a diverse range of rugged and dramatic landscapes including tussock lands, alpine bush, West Coast native rainforest and sub-tropical bush.

You will be able to immerse yourself in the natural beauty and history of the famous West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

On the West Coast Trail you will discover…

The distinctive limestone rock formations at Castle Hill...  the fabulous 14,000 hectare working high country station of Flock Hill, also known for being the film site of the blockbuster movie The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe... a quiet enclosed valley along the river at the Bealey Track to the base of Mt Rolleston... a wide range of colourful alpine vegetation on the Dobson Nature Walk... panning for gold while on the Goldsborough Track... hand dug goldminers’ tunnels on the Tunnel Loop Walk... the sea at its wildest as spray spurts to amazing heights at the famous Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and blowholes... coastal jungle and wonderful sea views along the Truman Track... granite boulders glittering with quartz on the Fox River Track or (depending on weather) the lovely Cave Creek Track in the heart of the Paparoa National Park... splendid nikau palms in the native rainforest along the Pororari River Walk...

Features of the trail include:

  • Your trip is fully guided and your bags are transported for you. All you will need on your walk is a day pack and your camera.


  • The tour begins in Christchurch – the gateway to the South Island, with an international airport. An excellent return option to Christchurch at the conclusion of the West Coast Trail is the TranzAlpine Railway.


  • High quality lodge accommodation is provided on all three nights.


  • All meals are provided for the duration of the trip and each night you will experience great local cuisine (wine and other beverages are available at your cost).


  • Four days of unique walks.
Itinerary:

Day One

You depart from Christchurch and travel along the Great Alpine Highway to Castle Hill where you walk amidst the distinctive limestone rock formations. You will continue your journey with an afternoon on Flock Hill*. This working high country sheep station was part of the movie set for the climactic battle between Aslan’s forces and the powerful army of the White Witch in... The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

“Most remarkable was the battle scene filmed at Flock Hill Station which shows off New Zealand’s uninhibited beauty…” – Reuters.

To top off your high country experience you will dine and stay overnight at Flock Hill’s quality lodge accommodation.

*(During lambing season walkers will instead walk in the Craigieburn Forest Park.)


Day Two

A short walk before breakfast takes you to a spectacular view of Lake Pearson which is situated at the base of the foothills of the Southern Alps. After breakfast you will begin your walk along the Bealey Track in Arthur’s Pass where you will be guided up the Bealey River to the base of Mt Rolleston. The group will stop to enjoy the scenery and a picnic lunch together.

The Dobson Nature Walk is the next experience along the trail. You will pass through colourful alpine vegetation, tussock, and wetlands while enjoying the view of mountains and valleys towering in the distance.

You will then explore some of the old goldmining relics on the Goldsborough Track near Kumara. This historic walk takes you through a wonderful array of West Coast ferns, with some of the best remaining examples of hill country rimu and miro. You can try your hand at gold panning.

You are then guided along the Tunnel Loop Walk where you will see an outstanding display of hand dug goldminers’ tunnels.

The evening is spent at a high quality West Coast lodge ……a tranquil setting in which to enjoy a scrumptious meal (and perhaps a glass of wine) and relax after a day's walking.

Day Three
Your day begins by exploring the ‘Jewel of the West Coast’, the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and blowholes. You will walk around these spectacular limestone formations that were created over 30 million years ago. The timing of this walk will coincide with high tide so that you can see the huge water spouts that blast from the crevices in the rocks, a truly spectacular and breathtaking sight.

The Truman Track is the next stop on the trail. You will be guided through lush coastal rainforest and capture fantastic views of the coastline.

From there you walk along the Fox River Track or the Cave Creek Track (depending on weather), in the fascinating heart of the Paparoa National Park.

You will stay in high quality West Coast lodge accommodation amongst the nikau palms, with magnificent coast scenery, and enjoy an entertaining evening meal.


Day Four
Your adventure continues this morning, after breakfast, with the Pororari River Walk, where you will experience spectacular West Coast native rainforest and broad limestone canyons, while walking alongside the lovely Pororari River. The track passes through dense sub-tropical forest of coastal broadleaf, tree ferns and towering rata.

Your West Coast Trail walking experience ends at mid-day leaving you with a number of additional options:

  • Return to Christchurch by:
    • The TranzAlpine Railway - rated 'one of the top 6 train rides in the world’ and highly recommended by Tuatara Tours. From your carriage you will enjoy stunning views of farmland, gorges, river valleys, lush beech forests and the Southern Alps. (4 hours)

      or

    • Coach (4 hours)

Ask our team for details.

  • If you wish to continue your stay in the West Coast region or explore another area of the South Island there are hire car facilities in nearby Greymouth.
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