Westport Must Do's

Hungry? Sink your teeth into a mouth-watering Westport pie, filled with 100% New Zealand wild game. Wash it down with a beer from the local Shortjaw Brewery.

Coaltown Museum

Westport is famed for its coal mining past and port that shipped it worldwide. Making history fun, the museum has mine exhibits, videos and hands-on displays. Learn all about life underground and take a 50-cent coin to run the sand pump.

Cape Foulwind Walkway

Spend just over one hour (one way 3.4km) negotiating the coastal bluffs, spotting fur seals/kekeno breeding colony and Cape Foulwind lighthouse.

Jewels and Gold

Try your hand at gold panning or head to the coast and try your luck fossicking for semiprecious stones along wild, West Coast beaches. 40

Whitebait Festival

The Labour Weekend festivities include family friendly events, live music, food and entertainment. Partake in cooking demonstrations and eat like a king.

Carters Beach

Just 6km from central Westport, this coastal suburb is a great place for walking, bike riding, swimming, fishing and kite flying. There is a great beach, park, playground and nearby golf.

Kawatiri Coastal Trail

A Grade 2 cycling and walking trail with well-kept boardwalks and bridges connecting Westportwith Charleston over 55km. The stretch between Buller River Bridge (just outside Westport) provides a picturesque and safe route to Kawatiri Beach Reserve.

Kawatiri River Trail

An 8km family-friendly walking and cycle trail running alongside the Buller- Kawatiri River between Buller and nearby North Beach. Packed with flora and fauna.

Surf

Seasoned surfers enjoy Tauranga Bay and Carters Beach. Learners can book lessons at two Westport surf schools or summer classes at Tauranga Bay.

TOP TIP: Bazil’s hostel in Westport also run Bazil’s Surf School (Surfing New Zealand Accredited), as well as daily paddleboarding trips.

Westport Municipal Chambers © Adobe Stock

Charming Creek Walkway

A 25-minute drive north, discover beautiful forest scenery and waterfalls while negotiating disused train tunnels along this former rail track. Three hours, 9.5km return.

THE GREAT COAST ROAD stretches along the 102kms between Westport and Greymouth and has been named one of the world’s Top 10 coastal drives.

Great Coast Road near Westport © Adobe Stock

Looking for a place to stay? Book accommodation at aa.travel.co.nz