The West Coast region of New Zealand is known for its rainy weather and beautiful coastal views. It also features temperate rainforests, limestone cliffs, rugged gorges, turquoise rivers and rocky beaches. It lends itself well to a scenic road trip along the coast.

The West Coast Region is where the mountains meet the sea. It’s known for its rugged landscape, coastal scenery, majestic mountains and lush rainforests. It’s also home to two accessible glaciers, Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. But it’s New Zealand’s wettest region and, in some places, receives over 6,000 millimetres of rainfall annually.

Nestled in the Southern Alps, Mount Aspiring National Park features a dramatic landscape of towering mountains, glaciers, turquoise rivers, untamed wilderness and mossy forests. It is the third largest national park in New Zealand and is reputed to contain some pretty epic mountaineering routes and adventurous trails through the mountains. But there’s also some shorter and easier hikes too, many of which are in the forest along the road towards the West Coast.

Wanaka is located near Mount Aspiring National Park in the Southern Alps. Situated by Lake Wanaka, New Zealand’s fourth largest lake, Wanaka is surrounded by majestic mountains in ever direction. It boasts of being a great spot to enjoy the outdoors and offers several hiking trails.

Queenstown is where nature meets thrilling adventure. It’s situated on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, the longest lake in New Zealand, with the Remarkables mountain range rising dramatically in the background. It’s known as the adventure capital of the world and boasts of offering a range of activities including hiking, skydiving, paragliding, bungee jumping, white water rafting, jet boating, mountain biking and more.

The Southern Scenic Route is a 600km drive along the southern coast of the South Island of New Zealand, connecting Dunedin and Queenstown. This area is also known as the Catlins and it’s not called a scenic route for nothing. With plenty of beaches, overlooks, hiking trails and other points of interest, it’s a great way to enjoy the scenery and sights along the southern coastline.

Dunedin is located in the southern part of the South Island of New Zealand. Its name comes from the Gaelic term for Edinburgh as it was founded by Scottish immigrants. Their history and legacy can still be seen throughout the city from street names and Victorian and Edwardian architecture. Dunedin is also known for its abundance of wildlife, including seals, penguins and albatross.

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is located in the Southern Alps and features many majestic mountains. The most notable of which is Mount Cook, also known as Aoraki, which translates to “Cloud Piercer” in Maori. Standing at 3,724 metres, it is the tallest peak in New Zealand. The park also contains numerous glaciers which have dramatically sculpted and shaped the landscape, leaving behind valleys, turquoise rivers and glacier lagoons.

Arthur’s Pass National Park is nestled deep in the Southern Alps. It was established in 1929 and was the first national park in the South Island and the third altogether in New Zealand. Arthur’s Pass gained prominence when gold was discovered on the West Coast in 1864 and a road through the mountains was built shortly after. While visitors today still deal with unpredictable weather, the road is paved now, and there are plenty of hiking trails and viewpoints to enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery.