| Arthur's Pass |
 Arthur's Pass may be known to most as the high point on
the Trans-Alpine Express railway from Christchurch to Greymouth. For those staying longer, there are plenty of choices of fine walks.
For mountain climbing fans, a climb to the summit of the Avalanche Peak is recommendable.
A walk to the nearby Punch Bowls Fall is a trail with less difficulty compared to the steep climb to the Avalanche Peak.
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| Greymouth |
 Greymouth is the West Coast's main commercial centre and largest town.
A 30 minute drive north of Greymouth is Paparoa National Park and the famous Pancake Rocks
and blowholes. Spectacular coastal scenery, limestone rock formations and groves of
nikau palms are a feature of this area.
Greymouth is also the arrival/departure point for the famous Tranz Alpine Express
rail journey which travels through lush rainforest, the snow capped Southern Alps,
spectacular gorges and across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.
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| Franz Josef/Fox Glacier |
The Franz Josef Glacier, 7.5 miles (12 kilometres) long, lies to the north of
its partner and is steeper. Maori legend applying to the creation of the glacier
is beautifully encapsulated in its Maori name - Ka Koimata o Hinehukatere, the tears
of the Avalanche Girl. Hinehukatere loved climbing in the mountains and persuaded her
lover, Tawe to go with her. Near the top, however, Tawe slipped and fell to his death.
The heartbroken girl cried, her tears at such an altitude freezing to form the glacier.
Popular trips are available onto the glacier, either by walking with a guide or
with a helicopter flightseeing trip.
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| Haast |
Haast, located at the mouth of the Mount Aspiring National Park,
is the base for outdoor activities such as trekking, fishing, and hunting.
Mount Aspiring National Park attracts both climbers and serious trampers.The options are endless,
and the park does not attract the enormous crowds seen at the Milford or Routeburn tracks.
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| Wanaka |
Hemmed in by the Southern Alps, Wanaka Lake is Otago's second resort after Queenstown. The crystal-clear
waters of New Zealand's fourth-largest lake reflect the snow-capped peaks of the
Mt Aspiring National Park World Heritage Area, whose dominant feature is Mt Aspiring,
towering above a magnificent glacier-sculpted wilderness.
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