Hokitika

Hokitika, gateway to the South Westland World Heritage National Park, is on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.

Clock tower in town centre, with the Jade Factory behind

Get in

Intercity Coachlines travel there. Located approximately 2 hours drive from Fox Glacier.

Air New Zealand flies from Christchurch every day.

See

Hokitika Gorge

• Glowworm Dell. Located just off the main highway north of Hokitika, visit this dell at night to be surrounded by sparkling glowworms. They're about a minute walk in from the road, and while the path is dark, using a bright torch will make some of the glowworms turn off. The light of a phone screen is totally enough to see by.
• Hokitika Gorge. Some thirty minutes away from the town by car. Cross a swingbridge over stunning blue waters.
• The National Kiwi Centre, 64 Tancred St, Hokitika, ☎ [phone]. An aquarium and kiwi house. Given that kiwis are so elusive, a kiwi house such as this is likely to be your only chance to see one in real life. You can also take part in feeding the giant eels which are approximately 85 to 100 years old, and learn a lot about them in the process. 

Do

• Wildfoods Festival. Annual food festival serving foods that range from the benign to the absolute wildest (paua titties (roe), bull, lamb and goat testicles) you could consider. Usually held in March. 
• Carve some greenstone (jade).

Buy

• Hand blown glass. Watch them make beautiful pieces of glass and then make a few purchases at the Hokitika Glass Works.
• Pounamu. This nephrite jade is found only on the West Coast, and its harvest and sale is governed by Ngai Tahu. There are a variety of pounamu stores, mainly along Weld and Tancred Streets. Beware some shops selling Canadian jade carved in China - if the price looks too good to be true, it's probably not pounamu. You can see Ngati Waewae carvers in action and buy verified pounamu carvings at Te Waipounamu Maori Heritage Centre, on the corner of Weld & Sewell.

Eat

Drink

Sleep

• 252 Beachside Motels & Holiday Park, 252 Revell Street, ☎ [phone], toll-free: 0508 252 252, fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 
• Aneden Motel, 123 Tudor Street, ☎ [phone], toll-free: 0800 883 671. 
• Riverview Cottage & Cabins, 154 Kaniere Road, ☎ [phone]. 
• Teichelmann's Bed & Breakfast, 20 Hamilton St, ☎ [phone], [phone], toll-free: 0800 743 742. From NZ$115–180, including continental breakfast. 

Go next

North:

• Greymouth and Shantytown (a bit before Greymouth and 20 minutes drive from Hokitika)
• Punakaiki Blowholes – an hour and a half drive

South:

• Ross
• Franz Josef Glacier – two hours drive on State Highway 6
• Fox Glacier – the bigger and less crowded glacier, 2.5 hours drive

Routes through Hokitika

Greymouth ←

N  S

→ Ross → Franz Josef Glacier