The Top 10 Things to Do in Westport, New Zealand (2024)

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Check out the Historic Architecture

Settled by Europeans in 1861, Westport is one of the oldest modern towns in New Zealand. A stroll through the town's main street (which is exceptionally wide!) uncovers many architectural gems, which is rather unusual in provincial New Zealand. Because an earthquake in nearby Murchison in 1929 damaged many of the original buildings, the town contains a few Art Deco treasures that were built in the 1930s. The Buller County Chambers and the Westport Municipal Chambers are highlights, and both on Palmerston Street, the main road through the center of town.

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Visit the Coaltown Museum

Beside the mustard-orange Westport Municipal Chambers building is the modern glass structure of the Coaltown Museum. Opened in 2013, it tells the history of coal mining in the Buller District. Through artifacts and displays it incorporates geology, science, and political and cultural history. In an age when coal mines are increasingly becoming obsolete, a visit to the Coaltown Museum is a must.

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Swim at Carters Beach

The West Coast of the South Island is notorious for its wild seas and strong currents, better for experienced surfers than a casual swim. But if all you're looking for is a relaxing time on the beach in the summer, head to Carters Beach, a seaside settlement a couple of miles from Westport with a number of holiday homes. The beach is much more sheltered than many along this coast, making it a good option for swimming.

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Go Surfing at Tauranga Bay

If you're seeking more than just a gentle swim, however, Westport is a great place to put your surfing skills to good use, or to learn to surf. A few surf schools in and around Westport can help you develop the skills you need to tackle the West Coast seas. Tauranga Bay, west of Westport, is an especially good spot for beginners as the breaks are wide and the bay is quite sheltered.

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Hike the Cape Foulwind Walkway

If you're after a short hike, the Cape Foulwind Walkway continues past the Tauranga Bay Seal Colony and along the cliffs. The walk from Tauranga Bay to the Cape Foulwind Lighthouse takes about 75 minutes one way, and can be commenced from either end. The track is in good condition and is classified by the Department of Conservation as an easy walk. Take a rain jacket, a sweater, and a sunhat because you're likely to experience all four seasons during one short walk.

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Spot Wildlife at the Tauranga Bay Seal Colony

Travelers with kids or those who want to enjoy a short walk rather than a hike should head to the Tauranga Bay Seal Colony. Park at the parking lot by the beach and follow the well signposted walking track over the cliffs to a lookout point, where you can look down upon dozens, if not hundreds, of fur seals. The path is uneven and uphill in places, but shouldn't be hard for most people, including kids. The best time to see seals is between November and February, which is summertime in New Zealand, although you'll probably see some throughout the year.

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Take a Trip to Punakaiki's Pancake Rocks

Thirty-five miles south of Westport (about an hour's drive) are the spectacular Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki. Punakaiki itself is a tiny place with limited accommodation, so most people visit while driving between Westport and Greymouth, or on a day trip from either of these towns. On the coastal edge of the Paparoa National Park, the Pancake Rocks were formed around 30 million years ago from fragments of dead marine creatures and plants on the seabed. Pressure compressed them and and turned them into the layers you see today. You can look down onto the blowholes and surge pools from boardwalks above.

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Mountain Bike the Forest Tracks

With forests, mountains, plateaus, and coastal trails, mountain bikers will love the area around Westport. The Denniston Plateau in particular is a favorite destination with mountain bikers as it has over 30 miles of tracks, from beginner to advanced level, which can take riders between one and twelve hours to complete. The plateau area is about half an hour's drive north-east of Westport.

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Road Trip through the Buller Gorge

If you're traveling to Westport from Nelson, 134 miles to the northeast, you'll have to travel through the Buller Gorge. The Buller is one of New Zealand's longest rivers, traveling west from its source at Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park to its mouth at Westport. The area just past Murchison, when the highway turns west toward the West Coast, is especially dramatic. In the Upper Gorge you can visit the Buller Gorge Swing Bridge Adventure and Heritage Park to walk, walk across New Zealand's longest suspension bridge, go jet boating, and learn about local history. Further down, in the Lower Buller Gorge as you near Westport, the views are especially impressive.

If you aren't traveling between Nelson and Westport, instead reaching Westport from the south via Greymouth, it's still worth taking a detour into the Lower Buller Gorge for the scenic views.

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Chow Down at the Westport Whitebait Festival

Held annually in October, the Westport Whitebait Festival brings people together to enjoy live music, cooking demonstrations, and other entertainment while feasting on these little fish. Whitebait (immature fish of certain species) were once found all over New Zealand but pollution in the rivers has led to their decline almost everywhere except the West Coast and a few other isolated parts of the South Island. In late spring it's not uncommon to see whitebait fishers beside rivers with large nets. The fish are tiny and usually mixed with a batter to be eaten as fritters.