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Hokitika is a town in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island, 40 kilometres south of Greymouth, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika River. It is the seat and largest town in the Westland District. The town's estimated population is 2,910 as of June 2021. On a clear day Aoraki / Mount Cook can clearly be seen from Hokitika's main street. Wikipedia
Things To Do (1)
2-Day Christchurch to Queenstown Tour via West Coast

This a very popular 2 day and 1 night trip from Christchurch to Queenstown ( or in reverse ) via the South Island's rugged West Coast. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel and deliver you to the World renowned Tranz Alpine train, which bisects the Canterbury farming plains, foothills and mountains, before reaching the alpine village of Arthur's Pass. Your guide will meet you, show you some of the area before travelling onto the West Coast. You'll hear the history of Maori, greenstone, gold, visit historic towns like Hokitika and travel on south through stunning rain forests to the glacier country. Staying in Franz Josef the night gives you the opportunity of a helicopter glacier landing ( not included in the tour price ) as well a stunning photo opportunities. From here the journey continues south along the coast before eventually swinging inland over the dramatic Gates of Haast, finally heading past Lakes Wanaka and Hawea and over the Crown Range road to Queenstown.
Travel Videos (20)
10 Top Things to Do on a South Island Road Trip, New Zealand | Travel Guide
Did you enjoy this video? Help us get more destinations on board by hitting the subscribe button! Thank you! ☆ Welcome to Top ...
HOKITIKA GORGE, SOUTH ISLAND - NEW ZEALAND | Things to do in New Zealand | Walk Through
Hi everyone, Hokitika Gorge, South Island, New Zealand was an amazing place to visit while you heading down the west coast.
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New Zealand travel tips vlog Part 1 — From all our NZ travel vlogs here's our Top 10 experiences, things to do and attractions to ...
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An epic road trip of a lifetime in the adventure capital of the world. Read about our full itinerary here: ...
10 Must Do's In The South Island New Zealand
here's a part 2 to this New Zealand travel guide series. Hope this helps you if you are wondering what to do in the South Island.
New Zealand South Island | 10 Day Road Trip Itinerary
I travelled the South Island, New Zealand back in August 2019, and its only now (7th April 2021) that I'm finally uploading this ...
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5 MUST DO'S West Coast, South Island NZ
The West Coast of New Zealand's South Island is a place like no other, with huge glaciers, lush native bush, scenic coastal roads, ...
⬇️ The Best Things To Do In The South Island Of New Zealand - NZPocketGuide.com
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What Bloggers Are Saying (33)
LocationAccommodationDeetzAucklandVerandahs Backpacker LodgeThis cute 1900’s hostel is nestled in the heart of the city. The verandahs is a great hangout spot & you have an incredible view of Auckland harbour!Waiheke ...
read moreOkarito Lagoon is New Zealand’s largest unmodified wetland. A coastal lagoon, it is 130 kilometers south of Hokitika, covering an area of about 12km, and it’s pretty epic! Home to ...
read moreThe gold rush sparked the founding of Hokitika in the 1860s, but today it may best be known for its jade, or New Zealand greenstone. It’s a must-stop for learning ...
read moreI had a great itinerary around the South Island which was perfect for a New Zealand honeymoon. We started in Christchurch, drove to Picton via Kaikoura, hiked Queen Charlotte, then ...
read moreObviously, I don’t know how long you plan on spending on the West Coast, but I’m going to assume it’s 3 – 4 nights. I’d spend the first night in ...
read more• Do not, and I repeat, do not find yourself in the position of having to fill up your tank in Franz Josef. We paid 2NZD p/l (yes, really!) because ...
read moreAnother 30 minutes south is Hokitika, a former thriving gold mining town which is now known for its production of greenstone and interesting festivals throughout the year, including the Wild ...
read moreIt’s a long drive over Haast Pass to Queenstown, so break it up into several days if time allows. From the town of Hokitika, it takes about 5.5 hours, not including ...
read moreThe Gold Room, located in Hokitika (a bit south of Greymouth) on the west coast is well worth a visit. They have a large collection of gold nuggets that includes ...
read moreFrom Christchurch – The most common way for travelling to Franz Josef is via Christchurch through the Arthurs Pass on the TransAlpine Train, which takes you past spectacular mountain ranges, ...
read moreIn fact the Maori name for the South Island is Te Wai Pounamu or the Land of the Greenstone Water, and if you visit, there are plenty of spots, especially on the ...
read moreCentre such as the National Kiwi Centre in Hokitika are incredibly family friendly and can be explored at your own pace. Other animals you'll find here are the giant longfin ...
read moreI remember driving down the west coast as a teenager on a family holiday (dad was actually driving) and I found it to be utterly boring! Bear that in mind ...
read moreNorth of Franz Josef Glacier, the road continues through the sleepy farming towns of Whataroa and Hari Hari followed by the coastal town of Hokitika which is famous for its ...
read moreWake up and get an early start on driving! Stop off for coffee (or lunch, if you didn’t get such an early start!) and walk around this adorable town. My ...
read moreOverlooking the Hokitika River and the surrounding mountains, Rimu Lodge is a cosy family-run lodge with excellent views and welcoming owners. It’s a 10-minute drive from Hokitika town center. Check ...
read moreIf you’re going to stop anywhere along the way, the coastal town of Hokitika is your best bet. The fish and chips are always best on the coast too! ...
read moreDay 8 and we were headed from Greymouth to Franz Joseph Glacier down the scenic west coast, we chose to split the journey by stopping off at Hokitika – there ...
read moreFrom Hokitika it’s a little under two hours to Franz Josef. There’s a few places to check out along the way which we cover in this post about the drive ...
read moreAfter Hobbiton, it was time to make a bee-line to Hokitika on the South Island. The journey would encompass nearly 1,000km including a picturesque ferry between Wellington and Picton. There ...
read moreThe town of Hokitika is famous for the green stone that washes up on the beaches. If you find a good piece, you can bring them to a studio and ...
read moreMy road trip from Christchurch to Queenstown didn’t end in New Zealand’s adventure capital, not exactly. After I took a day trip from Queenstown to the famous Milford Sound, I ...
read moreFew road trips in New Zealand are as spectacular as the one over Arthurs Pass. Aside from the breathtaking views in every direction you look, you’ll be able to do ...
read moreRuby Rock is a type of precious gemstone only found near the town of Hokitika – this rock contains ruby, sapphire and tourmaline. Artists Gerry and Corrie run their own ...
read moreThe drive from Fox River to Franz Josef Glacier is, guess what, LONG. Stopping in the cute town of Hokitika is a good place to stretch the legs, grab some ...
read moreThe drive to Hokitika is about 3 hours 15 min, which means if you leave Christchurch after breakfast, you’ll have plenty of time to start your road trip without rushing ...
read more45 minutes south of Greymouth is Hokitika, home of the greenstone crafts. Or jade. It goes by many names. Crafty people will enjoy watching jade carvings or glass blowing (free) ...
read moreShops, where you can buy crystals and different type of stones, are to be found literally all over New Zealand. Especially in hippie towns such as Coromandel and Takaka. The ...
read moreTime to continue your road trip through the New Zealand South Island! Whenever you finally drag yourself away from Takaka, hop back in the car and make the five-hour drive ...
read moreThere are lots of accommodation and camping options in Hokitika, the most unusual of which is the Seaview Lodge and Campground. This building has a lovely vantage point on top ...
read moreDave hasn’t taken his Green Stone (Kiwi for Jade) off since our first trip to New Zealand in 2011. When you are on the west coast of the country, be sure ...
read moreFeatured16 Jaw-dropping things to do in New PlymouthNew Plymouth has it all: wild and spectacular coastline, the sensational Mount Taranaki, magical glow worm dells, epic waterfalls and hiking trails, as ...
read moreToday we made our way further up the west coast, with a quick stop in Hokitika where we attempted to find some glow worms in an open cave areas. It ...
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