There are 26 Westports in the world, but only one in the Southern Hemisphere. This lucky town is a tiny surf spot on the (where else?) West Coast of New Zealand, two hours or so north of Greymouth and almost at the end of the road. I dropped in for two days and stayed for five. (To be honest, I was getting the majority of my writing done here and I had a breakthrough, so I kept on because it appeared to do me good.)
There’s only so much you can do in a surf town, so what is it? What are the best things to do in Westport, New Zealand? What can you do with only one day in Wesport?
Read on for what to do in this little surf mecca…
7:00am: Surf lesson! Meet a surf instructor and learn the basics of riding a wave. Lessons start at $85 through West Coast Surf or stay five nights at Bazil’s and get a free surf lesson. (Don’t steal Ray’s parking spot, though ;))
10:30am: You’re probably famished after the surf, so head over to PR’s Cafe on the main drag. Locals and visitors alike frequent this place and their breakfast is wicked. The pastry cabinet is always packed with delicious goodies so take some for the road too 😉
11:30am: Drive thirty minutes out to Denniston. This was once a desolate mining town high on the plateau outside of Westport; now you can wander the grounds and learn about life on the plateau or take an underground tour. The region still has the high quality of coal seams but is no longer mined.
If you are so inclined (sorry, bad pun!) you can hike the Incline (5 hours; 3 up, 2 down) from the bottom of the hill to the top. The coal wagons on the very steep hill were how the miners used to ship coal down to the port; in the early years they were also how the miners and their families got into town. It was incredibly unsafe, but necessary until the road was built in 1902.
I chose to drive it…. The winding drive into Denniston is unreal, with views stretching back to Tauranga Bay and beyond. Explore Burnetts Face and Coalbrookdale as well, only five minutes further into the plateau.
2:30pm: Head out to Cape Foulwind (15km from town, 30km from Denniston). Another one of Captain Cook’s most hated places along the coast of New Zealand, the cape is a blustery spot to spend an hour. Walk the coastal walk from the lighthouse to the seal colony at Tauranga Bay (2 hour return), or park at Tauranga Bay and walk 15 minutes in to the colony. The seal colony is usually pretty packed with seals; if you are lucky you can spot the baby seals nursing. Tauranga is a good beach as well, and a nice spot to enjoy a sunny day.Have a late lunch at The Bay House in Tauranga Bay before heading back into town via Carter’s Beach.
4:00pm: Back in Westport, head to the West Coast Brewery for a tour and tasting.
5:30pm: Surf’s up! Walk through the estuary to Shingle Beach and then wander down to the Tip. This is where all the local surfers congregate; you might see some of a surf competition, or you can just watch the locals hang ten. If you were pleased with your lesson this morning, maybe try your luck out on the waves.
*Other afternoon options: explore the many galleries in town. Much of the art produced is local. Check out Whanake Gallery & Espresso Bar. Go rafting on the Buller River or caving in Charleston. Have fun! You only have one day in Westport, and its a small town, so find things that interest you.
7:00pm: Enjoy a pub dinner at the Denniston Dog. This local pub serves up great, hearty meals with a side of local West Coast beer or Marlborough wines. Stay for a little bit of local craic or wander the main street to find another pub to finish off the night in.
Where to stay? Bazils Hostel and Surf School (tell them I sent you!)
Where to next? In the morning, head north to Karamea for a day to explore the Oparara Basin or drive toward Nelson through the Buller Gorge.
Are you Westport local? Summer seasonal local? What did I miss? What do you recommend travellers with only one day in Westport do? Share your thoughts in the comments below and be featured on the blog!
Like this post? Pin it!
