The wild West Coast where dense forest engulfs the less travelled roads and remote stretches of beach see spectacular sunsets. It’s a rugged, beautiful stretch of coastline in New Zealand’s South Island. From Glacier Country to the breathtaking Hokitika Gorge, there are some must-visit spots along the 600km coast, with mountains and wild sea at every turn. Hop between the scenic campgrounds on the West Coast for the ultimate adventure.
The wild West Coast where dense forest engulfs the less travelled roads and remote stretches of beach see spectacular sunsets. It’s a rugged, beautiful stretch of coastline in New Zealand’s South Island, and a West Coast New Zealand road trip runs the full 600 kilometres of it, from Kahurangi Point in the north to Awarua Point in the south. From Glacier Country to the breathtaking Hokitika Gorge, mountains and wild sea wait at every turn. Hop between the scenic campgrounds on the West Coast for the ultimate adventure.
These places to stay are in prime locations; just down the road from the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes in Punakaiki and around the corner from New Zealand greenstone carvers in Hokitika. Most trips begin in Christchurch, where you can pick up a camper and cross Arthur’s Pass to reach the coast at Greymouth. Camplify has campers listed by owners across the South Island, so wherever your holiday begins you’ll find the right vehicle for the coast.
1. Punakaiki
Punakaiki is home to the famous Pancake Rocks and Blowholes at Dolomite Point, 44 kilometres north of Greymouth. The Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Walk is a paved 1.1 kilometre loop of about 30 minutes, and the blowholes perform best around high tide with a south-westerly swell. DOC charges $2.50 per half hour or $20 a day to park there, by card only. Caves, river kayaking, two new tracks opened in early 2026 and the Paparoa Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, are all reasons to love the village of Punakaiki.
Stay at the Punakaiki Beach Camp, which sits between the beach and the mountains. A two-berth camper like Charlie suits this stretch, and its listing states it holds green certification for self-containment, with pick-up at West Melton and pets welcome. For a touch more room, Stunning Views is a six-berth motorhome from Christchurch with delivery offered as an add-on.
Take your camper five minutes up the road to the Truman Track, 1.4 kilometres return through nīkau rainforest to a waterfall on the sand. Walk it near low tide, because the beach below is cut off at high tide and in rough seas.
2. Jackson Bay
Taking off the beaten track to a new level is the detour to Jackson Bay, a quiet fishing village at the end of the road 51 kilometres south of Haast. Lush green forest canopies over the road making for a spectacular drive. The curve of the bay gives you a great view of both the sea and the Southern Alps. The Craypot serves blue cod and chips above the fishing boats, though it closes for winter and lists a 2 September 2026 reopening, so check before you drive out.
Spending the night out here depends on your vehicle’s paperwork rather than your plans. Every remaining blue warrant expired on 7 June 2026, so the green warrant is now the only valid self-containment certificate, and a portable toilet no longer qualifies. Certification belongs to the vehicle, so the owner’s warrant card decides where you may legally stop, and fines start at $400. Adventure Campervan is a Christchurch option listed as certified self-contained, sleeping two with toilet and shower, from $156 a night. Check the card, the council bylaw and the signs on site.
3. Franz Josef
Franz Josef sits in Glacier Country, below a glacier that is steadily retreating up its valley. The Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere Walk is 1.7 kilometres return, about 30 minutes, and ends at a viewpoint over the valley. The river has cut off access further up, so reaching the ice now means flying. Franz Josef Glacier Guides run landings, heli hikes and ice climbing from the village. The same parking charges apply here, and the track and access road both close for flooding, rockfall and slips. Soak in a hot tub at Waiho Hot Tubs midway through your road trip.
Campervan parks like Orange Sheep are the perfect base, with powered and non-powered sites for campers like Big Burstner, a three-berth Fiat Ducato Bürstner, and Rae, a six-berth with solar, gas and water on board. Travelling the West Coast on a budget? Bazza No 2 is an automatic two-berth from Christchurch listed from $118 a night, and Orange Sheep welcome all campers.
4. Greymouth
Greymouth is the hub of the West Coast, with the amenities of a larger town plus plenty of history and beautiful scenery to discover. Travelling north or south along the coast, Greymouth is the place to refuel, restock and reset on a campervan trip. Stay at one of the beachside campgrounds including Greymouth Seaside TOP 10 and Greymouth Kiwi Holiday Park.
Check NZTA’s journey planner before a long leg, because West Coast highways close for slips, flooding and rockfall. Camplify have vans for hire across New Zealand, so if you are heading to the West Coast from Christchurch, Queenstown or Nelson there’s a camper to suit you.
5. Westport
Westport is a fantastic stop on any West Coast campervan adventure, with its rugged coastal vibe and easy access to some of the region’s best natural experiences. It’s the perfect base to explore highlights like the Denniston Plateau, Cape Foulwind seal colony, and the wild beauty of Karamea and the Heaphy Track further north. With scenic campsites, local cafes, and that laid-back West Coast charm, Westport gives you the space to slow down, plug in (or unplug), and enjoy the ride.
Stay at the Carters Beach TOP 10 in Westport, or head 40 minutes further north and stay at Gentle Annie Camping Ground in Mokihinui at the foot of the Kahurangi National Park.
6. Hokitika
Hokitika is full of character, creativity, and coastlines. This charming town offers a perfect mix of natural beauty and quirky attractions, from the famous Hokitika Gorge with its surreal blue waters to windswept driftwood-strewn beaches ideal for sunset strolls. Park up and explore local galleries, greenstone carving studios, and vibrant cafes, or visit the glowworm dell for a free after-dark adventure. With excellent campgrounds nearby, Hokitika is the kind of place that makes you want to stay just a little longer.
The stretch between Punakaiki and Hokitika suits families with small children, because the walks are short and one base saves you a long drive every day. The Hokitika Gorge Walk is half an hour inland from town, and its first viewing platform sits 150 metres from the car park on a wheelchair-accessible path. The full loop over the upper suspension bridge runs 1.6 kilometres in about an hour and a half, and DOC asks you to keep children well back from a river that is swift and cold in all conditions.
The beachside West Coast atmosphere in Hokitika makes it top-notch for embracing campervan life. Cook dinner with an ocean view, wake up to birdsong and enjoy exploring at your own pace.
7. Gillespies Beach and Lake Matheson
To explore the secluded, remote side of the West Coast, follow Cook Flat Road out of Fox Glacier towards Gillespies Beach. The DOC campsite at the end takes bookings at $18 a night for adults, with eight non-powered sites, a cooking shelter, non-flush toilets and tap water to boil. Read DOC’s access note before you point a camper down there: the road runs 21 kilometres, over half of it narrow gravel, and DOC says plainly that it is not suitable for campervans or caravans.
Five kilometres along the same road, the Lake Matheson car park has free parking for campervans, and its 4.4 kilometre loop runs an hour and a half to mirror reflections of Aoraki/Mount Cook. Base your camper in Fox Glacier and ask campervan owners where their vehicle is happy to travel, because unsealed roads are part of life on this coast.
A West Coast New Zealand road trip rewards the unhurried version, with time for the road that runs out at Jackson Bay. Endless routes and remarkable scenery. Browse campervan hire on the West Coast, or start in Christchurch and drive over Arthur’s Pass.
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