Centre of the West Coast

Hokitika is a small town situated between the rugged & beautiful coast, the Hokitika River and the magnificent Southern Alps. Surrounded by rainforests and wetlands Hokitika is ideal as a base from which to explore the unique and diverse attractions of the West Coast.

 

Known as the “Greenstone centre of New Zealand” Hokitika has an abundance of pounamu (greenstone) carvers and gold jewelers, as well many arts & crafts shops, studios and factories exhibiting the work of local artists.

 

For the adventure seekers there are world class extreme kayaking rivers, white water rafting, heliskiing and hiking tracks that cross snowfields, glaciers and the Southern Alps. For the less adventurous there is an abundance of beach and rainforest walks, trout fishing, whitebaiting during the season and gold panning.

 

The Hokitika Wildfoods Festival in early March each year has become famous for its bizarre wild food and great entertainment.

Two hours easy drive south of Hokitika are the spectacular Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers nestled amidst rainforest, where the lakes, rivers, forests and beaches are part of an untamed and rugged wilderness.