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Before you go
Your trip to Hokitika.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Hokitika – West Coast Destination West Coast and the Glaciers
How to get there
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Aeroporto de Hokitika (HKK) 2 km
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Estação ferroviária de Greymouth Greymouth · 40 km
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
Hokitika Airport, next to town, has daily flights to Christchurch. Greymouth, where the TranzAlpine train arrives, is about 40 km north on Highway 6. Long-distance buses run on the way to the glaciers, about 2 hours to the south.
How many days
One day: the gorge in the morning, the town center and pounamu workshops in the afternoon, and evening on the beach. With two days, add the region’s lakes and trails.
When to go
Days are longest from December to March. In January the beach hosts a driftwood sculpture festival. It can rain at any time; days after rain are often clear.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
To Hokitika Gorge, about 33 km away: yes, by car or an organized tour. The town center and beach are walkable.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Hokitika
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Morning
Hokitika Gorge
Drive about 40 minutes to Hokitika Gorge and do the loop across the two suspension bridges over the milky-blue water. Arrive early to avoid the tour groups.
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Afternoon
Town centre and pounamu
Return to town, pass the clock tower and visit pounamu carving workshops to see the artisans at work.
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Late afternoon
Hokitika beach
Walk along the beach among logs and the town sign made from sea‑cast wood, and watch the sunset over the Tasman Sea, weather permitting.
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Evening
Dinner in the center
Have dinner in town, near the beach. Fish and whitebait, a small coastal fish, appear on menus in season.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Hokitika?
Visit Hokitika Gorge, the pounamu workshops, the clock tower, and the driftwood beach, where a sculpture festival is held in January.
What is pounamu?
It is New Zealand’s greenstone, a form of jade and nephrite found in West Coast rivers, valued by Māori. In Hokitika many craftsmen carve pieces. Buy from sellers who can guarantee the stone’s origin.
How long is it from Hokitika to Franz Josef?
About 2 hours by car on Highway 6, roughly 150 km to the south.
Hokitika or Greymouth: where to stay?
Hokitika is smaller and more tourism‑oriented, with the beach and artisans. Greymouth, 40 km away, is the regional hub and where the TranzAlpine train arrives.