Wellington - Greymouth - Queenstown

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Day 2 : Nelson to Greymouth

Travel time is approximate only, based on an average driving speed under normal road conditions.

	Travel Time	Km	(Miles)
Nelson - Westport	3 hrs	226	141
Westport - Punakaiki	0.75 hr	57	36
Punakaiki - Greymouth	0.5 hr	45	28
Totals for Day	4.25 hrs	328	205

Nelson - Westport

226 km (141 miles)
Approximately 3 hours
Road Conditions: State Highway

The city of Nelson is home to a fascinating community of beach, bush and art lovers. From here you can organise yourself an eco-adventure or become immersed in the local creative culture. Every year the city hosts the Montana New Zealand Wearable Art Awards.

The road to Westport is scenic and interesting. If you have plenty of time, turn off at Belgrove and loop past the Nelson Lakes National Park. The museum at Murchison will tell you all about the massive earthquake that shook the region in 1929.

Pan for gold in Lyell Creek before you navigate the dark, forbidding Buller Gorge. At Hawks Crag the road has been hacked out of solid rock—you'll drive under a dramatic overhang.

Westport is known as a coal mining town, but it's also a base for outdoor adventures. Visit the local coal mining museum, then strap on your walking shoes to investigate the seal colony. Black water rafting, jet boating, horse trekking and surf rafting are other opportunities for outdoor excitement.

Westport - Punakaiki

57 km (36 miles)
Approximately 0.75 hour
Road Conditions: State Highway

The road to Punakaiki hugs the coast, providing spectacular views of wild beaches and the tempestuous Tasman Sea. At Charleston, formerly a prosperous gold town, you can arrange underground rafting and cave exploring trips.

Punakaiki is famous for its pancake rocks and booming blowholes. It is the centrepiece of the Paparoa National Park, which is packed with a variety of stunning landscapes. There are many excellent coastal and inland walks in this area. The pancake rock formations date back about 30 million years and were created by layers of limestone being overlaid by rock and clay. When the tide is right, the blow holes are spectacular.

Punakaiki - Greymouth

45 km (28 miles)
Approximately 0.5 hour
Road Conditions: State Highway

The pancake rock formations date back about 30 million years. When the tide is right, Punakaiki's blow holes are spectacular.

The road to Greymouth is breathtaking. White capped breakers and rugged rocks on one side, bush-clad mountains on the other side. The town of Runanga is a classic mining village—it offers an interesting walk to nearby Coal Creek Falls. To see interesting old gold mining areas, look for the Point Elizabeth walkway.

Greymouth has a long gold mining history. It's the largest town on the west coast and is known for its awesome seascapes. The local brewery runs tours or you can catch up with west coast history at the museum. White water rafting, sea kayaking and gold panning are other things to do.

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