51 Best Sights in Upper South Island and the West Coast, New Zealand

Snow-covered peaks and alpine passes sit between two deep brooding, forest-surrounded lakes. Dense native forest, swampy wetlands, and tumbling rivers line the valleys, and birdlife join in a resounding dawn chorus. It's an exhilarating environment. Two stunningly scenic glacial-formed lakes, Rotoroa and Rotoiti, are the central focus of Nelson Lakes National Park. Also in the park are rocky peaks and tussock-covered tops, glacier-gouged river valleys, and bush-lined trails. Native beech forest pours down to the lakeshores. On cloudy days, mist swirls through the trees, wetting the draping mosses. On sunny days, the intense greens shine through and the birds' chorus resounds. Of the two lakes, Rotoroa is less developed, with just a few fishing cottages and a campsite on its northern shore. The village of St. Arnaud, at the northern end of Lake Rotoiti, is the main gateway to the park. An accommodation lodge, a handful of B&Bs, a general store, a café, the Department of Conservation (DOC) Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre, and a host of private vacation homes are located here. Each year, in late February or early March, the Antique and Classic Boat Show is held at Lake Rotoiti with close to 200 antique vessels congregating for several days of boat racing and boat talk. The visitor center is particularly good, with information on the area's geology, ecology, and human history. Maps, details, and advice on the hiking trails are available, and a mountain weather forecast is issued daily. The DOC also administers two excellent campgrounds near the lake frontage. Bookings for these, at Kerr Bay and West Bay, can be made online or at the visitor center.

On the site of New Zealand's first museum, the city’s provincial museum explores the first Māori residents and early European settlements, the city's development as a port, and general events that shaped the region. Exhibits include a rare collection of Māori musical instruments. There are heritage pieces donated from private collections and regular visiting exhibitions.

Despite its tiny size, Neudorf has established an international reputation for its pinot noir, and chardonnay. Riesling, pinot gris, and sauvignon blanc are also highly regarded. The top wines wear the Moutere designation on the label, as the winery is in the Moutere Valley surrounded by acres of vineyards and hop gardens. The Moutere Chardonnay is regarded as the vineyard's signature wine. Artisan cheeses are served in summer, and they also stock olives, cheese, and oat crackers in the small deli to enjoy on the lovely grounds.

Don’t miss a visit to beautiful, coastal Ōkārito Lagoon, just a 13-km (8-mile) detour off the highway, 15 km (9.3 miles) north of Franz Josef township. An immense, forest-fringed, coastal lagoon, nestled in scenic splendor beneath the Southern Alps, Ōkārito is arguably one of the largest, most pristine wetlands remaining in New Zealand. It is home to thousands of sea and wading birds and is backed by the Ōkārito Kiwi Sanctuary, 27,000 acres of lowland forest and home of the rowi, a rare species of kiwi.

The magical rain forests and sculpted landforms here are amid the Honeycomb Hill Caves Specially Protected Area that's within Kahurangi National Park. Spectacular features at Oparara include a series of huge limestone arches (including the largest in the southern hemisphere, at 470 feet), passages, and caverns. Several short walks explore the caves, which are about a 45-minute drive northeast of Karamea. The Oparara Valley Project Trust, a community project, has enhanced visitor facilities and offers guided tours that can include both walks and kayaking explorations. Also in this cave system is Honeycomb Hill, featuring underground passages of more than 13 km (8 miles) that contain the largest collection of subfossil bird bones found in New Zealand; many of them are extinct, including nine moa species and the giant New Zealand eagle. The caves are protected, and access is by guided tour only.

Halfway between both Picton and Nelson and Blenheim and Nelson, on State Highway 6, is this remnant of the native lowland forest that once covered the whole region. Easy walking trails explore the beech, podocarp (a species of evergreen), and broadleaf trees. In summer ,the crystal clear river is warm enough (just) for swimming (watch for the sand flies). There's also a rare colony of endangered long-tailed native bats that come to play round the streetlight at the bridge at night. This is an utterly delightful place to take a pause, especially with a campground and café both in the vicinity.

Picton's seafaring history is captured with a wealth of memorabilia showcased in this quaint and worthy museum. The area was first a key Māori settlement called Waitohi, then an important whaling and sealing location for European immigrants in the early 19th century. Until 1860, all trade and travel was done by sea.

The main road out of Picton, State Highway 1, heads directly to Blenheim. If you're heading west toward Havelock and Nelson, and don't mind a slower, though much more scenic, route, Queen Charlotte Drive is for you. From Picton, the drive climbs the hill to the west of the town, then winds in and out of bays along the edge of Queen Charlotte Sound. Governor's, Momorangi, and Ngakuta bays are gorgeous spots for a picnic. The drive then cuts across to Pelorus and Keneperu sounds, and follows the water's edge to Havelock township. Cullen Point, a short walk near the Havelock end of the drive, leads to a good lookout point across Pelorus Sound. From Havelock you join State Highway 6, which leads to Nelson.

A hands-on reenactment of an 1880s mining town, Shantytown will show you it was all about steam in those days. Most of the buildings are reproductions, including a jail, a blacksmith shop, a railway station, and Chinatown. Gold-digging displays include a giant water cannon for blasting the gold-bearing rock and soil from the hillside, water races, and a stamper battery---powered by a 30-foot waterwheel—for crushing the ore. You can pan for gold, ride an old bush tramline, take a break in the café, or share a picnic on the lawns and then go back for more.

There are few places in the world where you can find a natural gas flame, but this is one. In an ancient forest setting near Murchison, there’s been one quietly glowing since the 1920s, and this tour company has sole access rights. The four-hour tour involves a short, scenic drive, education about local oil drilling and farming, a one-hour backcountry walk (you might get wet feet) through farmland and forest to the flames, and a hot brew and pikelets cooked up on the natural fire. Tour groups are restricted to ten people. Booking ahead is essential.

An impressive gallery for its size, Suter was bequeathed to the city of Nelson by Bishop Suter in 1899. In 1916 the gallery was significantly redeveloped and expanded. Collections include the watercolors of 19th-century artist John Gully; works of local Sir Toss Woollaston, a Nelson and New Zealand pioneer of modern art; British Modernism works by various artists; and ceramic pieces from local, nationally renowned artists. Visiting exhibitions change regularly. The gallery’s popular café looks out over neighboring Queen's Gardens.

These artisan shops showcase wines alongside olive oils, fudge, homeware, quilts, ceramics, glassware, jewelry, and recipe books. Dine in the café, let the kids loose in the playground, or you can all just relax in the tranquil lakeside grounds.

From Tākaka, the coast road heading northeast leads to Totaranui, the northern entry for Abel Tasman National Park. This scenic road passes through Pohara Beach, which has a few cafés and a holiday park, before winding around to Wainui Bay with its alternative Tūi community (a residential community that welcomes visitors) and cascading Wainui Falls (a 75-minute return walk from the road). From Wainui Bay, the road over the Totaranui Hill is a gravel surface. Take it slowly: it's a gorgeous drive through dense native bush to the coast. Totaranui Beach is a long golden-sand beach that is safe for swimming. This area can also be reached by scheduled boat services from Kaiteriteri and Marahau, on the Motueka side of the Tākaka Hill. It's a slice of pure beach bliss, and there's an unpowered campground with basic facilities. There’s generally a wait-list to camp here for the first few weeks after Christmas, large though it is. Otherwise, you should be fine—however, reservations are required no matter what time of year.

Ngati Waewae is the iwi (tribe) of this area, a subtribe of the South Island Ngai Tahu. The iwi owns and carves all the pounamu (greenstone) at this center. The artists will reveal how every stone has a story. If you buy a piece, they will give you its unique code, which you can use to trace the story of your stone on the center's website.

Six kilometers (4 miles) west of Tākaka you'll find the largest cold-water spring system in the southern hemisphere, the Main Springs, likened to a fresh-water equivalent of a coral reef because of its superb variety of aquatic vegetation. The water here is among the clearest water ever measured, anywhere in the world. Swimming or touching the water is not allowed, to prevent the introduction of weeds and damage to the delicate flora within the springs, so leave your wetsuits and dive gear in the car. Instead, take a leisurely stroll around the Scenic Reserve on the 40-minute, top-quality walk to the Main Springs, Dancing Sand Spring, and Fish Creek Springs. Go quietly—the better to spot tūī, bellbirds, wood pigeons, and other birdlife. The turnoff from State Highway 60 to Pupu Springs Road is signposted on the western side of the Tākaka River bridge. Pick a sunny day when the Springs are fully illuminated.

Phil and Chris Rose were among the first grape growers in the region, starting in 1978. Now the second generation of family helps produce award-winning sauvignon blanc and other excellent varietals under their own Wairau Valley label. The winery building is made from mud bricks and has two log fires in winter; in summer, you can relax on the sun-drenched lawns. Local produce features in the lunch restaurant adjacent to the cellar door. It’s popular with the locals, so reservations are recommended.

You can wander the tops of the ancient trees in the West Coast rain forest on this 1,500-foot long, 65-foot-high walkway through the canopy. You can go even higher on the Hokitika Tower, 130 feet above the forest floor. Views extend over the rain forest to dark, glacial Lake Mahinapua and beyond to the Southern Alps. The walkway is fully wheelchair-accessible. A café and gift shop are also on site.

The glaciers are the main attractions here, yet there are many other beautiful places to explore in this magnificent national park and World Heritage region, which encompasses everything from New Zealand’s highest mountains to glaciers, rain forests, hidden lakes, and coastal wetlands. Scenic drives and a couple of walks in the glacial valleys bring you to viewpoints within 500 feet or so of the glaciers. Alternatively, from Fox township, drive about 4 km (2½ miles) toward the coast on Cook Flat Road for a roadside view of Fox Glacier (weather permitting). Because of glacial recession access onto the actual glaciers is no longer possible by foot, but by helicopter only. There are many guided heli–hike options, as well as scenic flights for both glaciers. Flights are generally best early in the morning, when visibility tends to be clearest. Summer may be warmer, but there is more rain and fog that can scuttle flightseeing and hiking plans. In winter, there are fewer people, and the skies are clearer, which means fewer canceled flights and more spectacular views. In fact, winter in this area can be a lot warmer than the snow resort towns east of the Southern Alps. Note that the glaciers are currently receding fast, and with less ice to bind their rocks, the mountains and valleys are increasingly prone to slips and landslides. Accordingly, access roads and trails change regularly for safety reasons; do check with the Department of Conservation (DOC) or i-SITE Visitor Informtion Centre about current conditions, and be sure to heed all DOC warning signs. Away from the ice, just a five-minute drive west of Fox Glacier township is the walk around Lake Matheson, leading to one of the country's most famous views. A trail winds by the lakeshore to where (weather permitting) the snowcapped peaks of Aoraki/Mt. Cook and Mt. Tasman are reflected in the water. It's an easy 2.6-km (1-mile) walk right around the lake. The best times to visit are sunrise and sunset, when the mirror-like reflections are less likely to be fractured by the wind. Other beautiful park walks are on the coast; at Gillespies Beach (coastal wetlands and forests and wild surf), and at Ōkārito, where your choices are the wetland boardwalk (20 minutes), Ōkārito Trig for an amazing viewpoint of Ōkārito Lagoon and Aoraki/Mt. Cook (1½ hour round-trip), and the Three Mile Pack Track, where you can return along the beach if you get the tide right.

A must-see for its dramatic seascapes is Wharariki Beach, out beyond the road to Farewell Spit. To get here, drive past Collingwood to Pakawau and follow the signs. Go as far as the road will take you, and then walk over farmland on a well-defined trail for 20 minutes. Allow at least an hour for the return circuit, along the beach and back via another well-marked track along the Farmpark. Be wary though: it’s too rough for swimming and very easy to get caught by the incoming tide. Remember, this dramatic coast is quite remote, with few people (certainly no lifeguards) and tides change very quickly. Don’t be one of those who gets trapped by the sea walking out to the offshore rocks. Also, among the massive sand dunes you're likely to come across fur seals and their pups. Keep at least a 30-foot distance, as they can move quickly and do bite, and never get between a seal and the sea. It can be very windy here, at which times the sand will whip you like in a Sahara storm. But don’t let any of that put you off this inspiring place. Be sure to bring drinking water; there's none available anywhere at the beach. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; walking.

This annual event celebrates bush tucker (food from the bush) from the West Coast's natural food sources. Bite into such delectables as huhu grubs, grasshoppers, beetles, whitebait patties (far more mainstream), and wild pork (as in from pigs running wild in the bush, not farmed—or angry), and follow it all with gorse wine, elderflower champagne, or Monteith's bitter beer. It's usually held in the second weekend of March. Book well ahead, as there's a cap of 10,000 participants and usually sells out.

From this impressive, three-story edifice of river rock, tiles, concrete, and wood, there’s a commanding view across the Wairau Valley and the Wither Hills. Tastings include award-winning sauvignon blancs and rieslings. At the popular winery restaurant, guests can relax at alfresco tables, lounge on beanbags on the lawn, or opt for more formal seating inside. A "wine library" consists of vines of wine grape varieties grown in New Zealand—30 of them lined up across the front of the winery.