Explore Northern West Coast

Explore West Coast will pick you up from your accommodation. Travel to Punakaiki along the Great Coast Road where you will walk the famous Punakaiki Blow Holes track. The pancake rocks in Punakaiki are the most visited natural attraction on the West Coast. The foundations of the Pancake Rocks were formed 30 million years ago when minute fragments of dead marine creatures and plants landed on the seabed about 2 km below the surface. Immense water pressure caused them to solidify into layers of more resistant limestone and softer, thin, mud-rich layers. Gradually seismic action lifted the limestone above the seabed where water, wind and salt spray eroded the softer layers leaving a "pancake" like stack of harder limestone. Keep your eyes open as Hector's Dolphins like to play close to shore.

Travel on north to Westport stopping along the way for photos and at call into Charleston Bay. Arrive into Westport where you will have time to have a lunch break and spend sometime in the township.

Then it is off to Denniston, travel up the incline to the plateau. Described as "a place either loved or hated - but always with a passion"  Denniston was a working town through and through, existing purely for the benefit of extracting black gold from the earth`s depths. It was definitely not a place for the fainthearted. The work was dangerous and a number were injured or died as a result of accidents in the mine or riding the infamous incline. The Denniston Incline widely referred to as "the Eighth Wonder of the World", was recognized the world over as a remarkable feat of engineering. Linking Denniston with the Conns Creek rail head below, the incline fell 510 metres over 1.7 kilometres in two sections, incorporating dramatically steep gradients. Learn the rich history and take in the magnificent views while on top of the world.

During your trip back to Greymouth you will call into the Seal Colony where you can take a short walk from the car park at Tauranga Bay, a very well formed 10-minute track leads to viewing platforms over the seal colony below. Interpretive panels at the platforms provide information on the activity in the colony and the seals' breeding cycle, as well as historical information about the sealing industry that once existed in New Zealand.

Return back to Greymouth and be dropped off to your accommodation. This tour is a full day and lunch is not included in the price. 

MEETING POINT

Please note that our main pick up is Greymouth isite Visitor Centre at the Railway Station, 164 Mackay Street.

Unless a alternative selected hotel accommodation is chosen at time of booking. Please be ready 15 min before departure time of tour.

Terms and Conditions: Report 15 minutes prior to departure time. If you need to amend or cancel the booking reservation  please advise Explore West Coast without delay. No shows or cancellation within 24 hours of the product departure time will result in 100% cancellation fee. Vouchers are subject to regulations and bylaws of the respective operators to whom they are issued. All vouchers are valid for the services as detailed on the vouchers. Terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.

Explore West Coast cancellation policy 

Within the result of you not being able to make our tour please see the below information on cancellation here at Explore West Coast.

Change of date or holding of booking upto 24 hours before travel.

Any booking canceled within 72 hours to 24 hours before travel will result in a refund minus 10% booking fee. 

Within 24 hours before travel no refund will be given.

Full refund for any booking canceled outside of the 72 hour cut off period.

This policy also stands in the situation of COVID level alert change which affects the tour operation or the lockdown of a region the customer is traveling from and in which case a change of date or hold of booking will be offered within the 24 hour period. 

COVID: As you will be aware from 11.59 pm on 2 December 2021 we moved to the new Traffic Light System here in New Zealand. We are operating and welcome your bookings. All Explore West Coast Tour drivers / guides are fully vaccinated. Mask's are mandatory in tour group settings, sanitizer is available on board. We pride ourselves on the cleanliness of our vehicles. After each tour, our vehicles are cleaned and disinfected to a high standard. 

Bad weather which impacts your tour experience, Explore West Coast will offer you a 12 month credit to use on a tour of your choice or alternatively a travel or a Station Gift Shop credit to spend. T&c's apply if booked with an agent.