From Queenstown to Westport - 8 Day Roadtrip Along NZ's West Coast

From Queenstown to Westport - 8 Day Roadtrip Along NZ's West Coast

A day to day itinerary with what to do and see, accommodation recommendations for every budget and travel style and spots to eat as well as hidden gems. The roadtrip sarts in Queenstown and includes stops on the way to the West Coast and all the way up to Westport. Explore the rugged and wild coastline, waterfalls and rainforest, glaciers, windswept beaches or a geological wonder reminding of a pancake stack. Find your own pounamu (greestone), go gold panning and discover mining relics. The guide comes with an interactive map showing you all the places and is compatible with the phone so that you can have the guide always with you. As the weather is unpredictable on the West Coast you can always decide whether to stay longer or shorter in one place. With my guide you won't be short on options. Have a great roadtrip!
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DAY 1

START FROM QUEENSTOWN

Queenstown
@sarahgeiger
Queenstown, nicknamed the "Adventure Capital" of New Zealand, lies at the shore of Lake Wakatipu surrounded by impressive mountain ranges. The activity options are endless from skiing during winter season, to bungy jumping, river rafting, sky diving, canyon swings, hiking and mountain biking. There is nothing you can think of that does not exist. It is a popular vacation spot all year around and also offers boutique shopping, fine dining and you can pamper yourself with some amazing spa treatments.
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The roadtrip starts in Queenstown and if you're looking for a place to stay before hitting the road, check out my free guide on the best accommodation options.

ARROWTOWN

Walk around town, window shopping and enjoy the beautiful historic buildings. Don't miss to go for a walk through the historical Chinese Settlement and if you're visiting on a Sunday, make sure to pass by the market.

Arrowtown
@sarahgeiger
This beautiful little town is just 20 minutes from Queenstown and has a gold-mining history and a historic Chinese settlement. It was built in 1862 during the height of the Otago gold rush and even nowadays you can still go gold panning. The streets are lined with hostoric buildings and tall trees, there's some small boutiques, cafés, restaurants and bars and on Sundays you should pay the market a visit. This town is absolutely picturesque and a must-visit place.
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Access all the local insights and recommendations from @sarahgeiger when you purchase this guide.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
❗PLEASE NOTE❗ I'm trilingual. I offer my services here in English but I can also provide them in German 🇩🇪 and Spanish 🇪🇸 if you contact me ✨ Hi everyone 👋🏻 I'm Sarah from Germany and my biggest passion is everything related to travel. I not only LOVE to organize my own travels but also help others make travelling and especially planning easier. Below you can find some facts about me to get to know me a little better 😊 🌏 I'm backpacking solo around the world since 2017, exploring new places and cultures. I love to travel off the beaten path as I think this is the best way to experience local life and discover places away from mass tourism. 🗻 I've lived in New Zealand for 2,5 years, exploring this beautiful country in my van and I've also lived in Australia and Uruguay for one year each. 🥥 I always try to spend as much time as possible in one country to be able to explore it thoroughly. The first thing I usually do is wandering the streets to get a feel for the place, visiting local markets and also trying all the food. 🏞️🏝️ I love the outdoors, hiking, chasing waterfalls, driving around with the scooter, scuba diving and snorkeling. 🤔Have initial questions or need quick advice? Hit the “Contact Me” button to send me a message! I’d love to hear from you. 
What's included
Digital Map
Fully interactive, digital map for finding places nearby
86 places
86 hand-picked places with notes from the creator
2 extra guides
Access to additional guides curated by the creator.
7 photos
Beautiful, hi-res photos from the creator
2 links
2 links from the creator to go even deeper with more info
DESTINATION(S) COVERED
Lake Matheson, West Coast, Neuseeland
Hokitika, Neuseeland
South Island, Neuseeland
Fox Glacier, Neuseeland
Hokitika Gorge, Kokatahi, Neuseeland
Blue Pools Blue Pools Track, Otago, Neuseeland
Franz Josef Glacier, West Coast, Neuseeland
Arrowtown, Neuseeland
Lake Wanaka, Otago, Neuseeland
Fantail Falls, Mount Aspiring National Park, Neuseeland
Ross, Neuseeland
Punakaiki, West Coast, Neuseeland
Arthur's Pass, Neuseeland
Otira Viaduct Lookout Otira Highway, Arthur’s Pass, Neuseeland
Fox River, West Coast, Neuseeland
Haast Pass, West Coast, Neuseeland
Franz Josef/Waiau, Neuseeland
Westport, Neuseeland
Woodstock Hotel Woodstock-Rimu Road, Woodstock, Neuseeland
Wanaka, Neuseeland
Cape Foulwind, Neuseeland
Devils Punchbowl Waterfall Devils Punchbowl Walking Track, Arthur’s Pass, Neuseeland
Bruce Bay, West Coast, Neuseeland
Thunder Creek Falls, Wanaka, Neuseeland
Cardrona, Neuseeland
Greymouth, Neuseeland
Queenstown, Neuseeland
Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Track New Zealand State Highway 6, Pancake Rocks, Neuseeland
Roys Peak, Wanaka, Neuseeland
Ship Creek Haast Highway, Haast, Neuseeland
FOCUSES AND THEMES
50+
Backpacker
Couples
Groups
Family
Female Solo
Vegan
Vegetarian
Adventure
Boutique
Budget
Camping
Luxury
History
Foodie
Coffee
Outdoors
Photography
RV
Relaxation
Road Trip
Romantic
Slow Travel
Van Life
Format
Itinerary
Itineraries typically include day-by-day plans, with food, lodging and activity recommendations for each day.
COMMON QUESTIONS
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