Escape to a West Coast Winter
Winter casts a gentle spell over nature on the West Coast. When the holiday resorts on the far side of the Southern Alps are heaving with visitors, the Coast remains refreshingly peaceful with arms wide open to those who enjoy more relaxed travel. Days may be shorter but there are discoveries aplenty in store. Mornings reveal snow-topped mountain peaks rising steeply above mist-filled valleys and quiet, picture- perfect lakes, before unfolding into still, sunny days bristling with anticipation and crystal clear skies surrounding the Milky Way.
Pick your best days
Typically mild and drier than other seasons, West Coast winter days are often warmer and more settled than elsewhere in the South Island which makes this region a prime choice for a winter escape. Plus, when roads are quiet and there are less visitors around, you can pick and choose your days for outdoor activities.
The twin glaciers and the mountains are never more beautiful than after a fresh dusting of snow so winter is the optimum time for a scenic flight, a heli hike on the glaciers or a tandem skydive where the views stretch forever from the mountains to the coast.
Outdoor adventures
Prefer to keep your feet on the ground? Explore the Coast’s extensive network of all-seasons tracks and trails to discover wild coastlines, sublime mirror lakes, majestic alpine vistas, verdant rainforests, thrilling waterfalls, thundering cascades and gorges. E-bikers and mountain bikers will delight in the huge variety of dedicated cycle paths on kilometres of mountain biking tracks and trails, including the iconic Heaphy Track which opens up to bikers over winter (1 May to 30 November). The 78-km Heaphy Track across tussock alpine pasture and through hilly coastal rainforests is a 2-day ride reserved for experienced riders. Easy riders may prefer a section or two of the new 42-km Kawatiri Coastal Trail near Westport or the everpopular Wilderness Trail between Greymouth and Hokitika.
Heavenly wonders
When a fine winter’s day is done, West Coast evenings delight with other heavenly wonders — glorious burning red-gold sunsets and star- struck nights. Gather some driftwood, light a bonfire on the beach, toast some marshmallows and watch the sun go down over the Tasman Sea. Or snuggle down in a hot tub to experience extraordinary stargazing in a region where crisp night air and minimal light pollution combine to produce some of New Zealand’s clearest night skies.
Cosy stays
West Coast hospitality comes to the fore in winter with a fine collection of cosy boutique stays — from luxurious lodgings and hosted B&Bs to unique, selfcontained cottages and cabins — to choose from. When temperatures go down, it’s hard to beat a leisurely hot soak after a day outdoors so, if you’re looking for some pure relaxation with hot pools and saunas, there are some top stays to check into.
Romantic, off-grid Te Aka Treehouse near Greymouth offers true forest bathing with a sauna sitting right beside the stream that could serve as an icebath in winter. Maruia Hot Springs is a boutique health spa and eco resort with natural mineral hot pools in the Lewis Pass, and Lake Brunner Eco Lodge has a private hot tub for secluded spa gazing. Rainforest Retreat offers a sauna and private spas on the decks of the private villas, while closeby Waiho Hot Tubs is the cosiest spot around the glaciers.
For more information, visit westcoast.co.nz
