Greenstone Trail 2025

10-18 April 2025

Overview Itinerary Image Gallery Inclusions Terms & Conditions

This tour travels the length of the West Coast of the South Island - one of New Zealand’s most unspoilt regions. The Greenstone Trail is full of attractions that cover many of the ‘must see and do’s’ of this area. Walk among the treetops in a South Westland Rainforest, discover endless wild beaches and languid lakes and learn the stories of bravery and endeavour in historic coal and gold towns.

Day 1

Thursday 10 April - We head South - Travelling to St Arnaud

With pick-ups from home locations early this morning we are transferred to Wellington and meet at the Interislander Ferry terminal for our morning sailing across Cook Strait to Picton. There will be time for lunch in Picton on arrival (own choice and cost) before we set off up the Wairau Valley to our destination, the alpine village of St Arnaud, on the shores of Lake Rotoiti. You may have time to take the short walk down to Lake Rotoiti before dinner at our hotel this evening.

Day 2

Friday 11 April - Friends of the Hill - West to Westport

Departing St Arnaud this morning our travels take us through the scenic Buller Gorge with a morning tea stop along the way. Emerging at Westport we stop here for lunch (own choice and cost), before visiting the wonderful Kawatiri Experience Centre. Westport is a town built on coal extraction from wild and remote places like Denniston and Stockton where daily life was a struggle and comfort a luxury. This modern museum, with significant input from Weta Workshop, offers an immersive experience dedicated to telling the stories of bravery and endeavour, and offers a glimpse into the geological origins of the prized elements of coal, gold and pounamu (greenstone).

This afternoon we continue north to the historic coal mining town of Denniston, where we meet the “Friends of the Hill” a small but passionate group whose mission it is to preserve a unique piece of New Zealand history. They will host us for afternoon tea, and we will hear the stories of life on the Plateau and the famous Denniston Incline, described by local residents as the "eighth wonder of the world" and recognised the world over as an amazing engineering achievement. We then drive down to the top of the Incline brakehead for an opportunity to wander and explore this historic site, which also offers magnificent views down to the coastal plains of the Karamea Bight (if the weather permits). Winding our way back down the hill, we return to Westport, where we check in to our motel, our home for the next two nights. We dine out tonight at a popular local restaurant.

Day 3

Saturday 12 April - Northwards - Karamea and the Heaphy Track

Today we travel as far north as the road takes us, to Karamea and beyond, passing the small coal mining settlements of Ngakawa, Granity and Seddonville, and threading our way through bush over the spectacular Karamea Bluff. Passing through Little Wanganui and Karamea, we then hug the coast up to Kohaihai, which marks the end of the road and the start of the well-known Heaphy Track within Kahurangi National Park. We’ve brought along a picnic lunch, and in

this scenic spot we relax and enjoy it (but don't forget your insect repellent, as the sandflies are pretty hungry around here too!) After lunch we can enjoy a very pleasant walk through lush coastal nikau forest at the start of the Heaphy or take a stroll along the beach before we make our way back to Westport. There will be time to relax and freshen up, before we dine out again this evening.

Day 4

Sunday 13 April - Wonderful West Coast Scenery – Travelling to Hokitika

This morning we drive out to Tauranga Bay and Cape Foulwind where we will be able to take a short scenic walk to view a large mainland seal breeding colony. Our travels then take us along a stretch of the West Coast that many consider the most stunning of all, between Westport and Greymouth (although the competition is pretty fierce, as the following days will prove). Along the way we’ll stop at the tiny historic gold mining settlement of Charleston, driving down to Constant Bay, a beautiful little cove surrounded by rocky headlands, with a narrow entrance leading to the sea. After a morning cuppa we continue our journey south, wild beaches, towering bluffs and subtropical nikau a feature of our travels. The Pancake Rocks/Punakaiki Blowholes is our lunch stop today (own cost and choice) with time also to walk to this geological wonder – formed some 30 million years ago. Be sure to also venture into the stunning new Punakaiki Visitor Centre - architecturally interesting as it is shaped like an anchor and features a living green roof.

This afternoon we take a short detour up the Grey River, where we find the small historical mining settlement of Blackball, once a hot bed of unionism in New Zealand and the birthplace of the Labour Party, today a quiet village, rich in history. The story of Blackball is told at the Blackball Museum of Working Class History – an excellent little open air museum, also featuring a special tribute to the Pike River miners. Next door is the famous “Formerly the Blackball Hilton” Hotel. Finally, we make our way to Hokitika to our accommodation, home for the next two nights and located right beside the beach. We have time to settle in and freshen up before we dine in house this evening.

Day 5

Monday 14 April - Walking Among the Treetops

We depart for the Hokitika Gorge this morning, making our way out through lush dairying country to reach the gorge - a secret but spectacularly scenic spot - where we enjoy a walk and a chance to explore. After a cup of tea, we head to tranquil Lake Mahinapua where a fabulous attraction awaits us - The Westcoast Treetop Walk. This walk allows us to safely stroll amongst the canopy of magnificent lowland West Coast rainforest, with glimpses of the picturesque lake. The more adventurous among us can climb the Hokitika Tower to gain sensational vistas of the snow-capped Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea, or sway in harmony with the forest on a cantilever. Lunch today is at the Treetop café (included).

This afternoon we travel back into Hokitika township with some free time for sightseeing, shopping, or beachcombing. We enjoy relaxed dining in again this evening.

Day 6

Tuesday 15 April - West Coast Rainforest

We travel south to Whataroa this morning where we join a rainforest tour within the remote Waitangiroto Nature Reserve – only accessible on a guided tour. Driving across lush South Westland farmland, we then walk on a flat, purpose-built track among the pristine stands of 1000 year old kahikatea. This type of forest is very special and complex, and literally drips with lichens and epiphytes, while in autumn bursts with wonderful fungi, orchids and ferns which our local guide will point out to us. We will also see the nesting site of the kotuku (white heron), located on a secret waterway. At this time of year, the birds have dispersed widely, but we will learn about this special chosen location – the only breeding site of the kotuku in New Zealand.

Returning from our tour we enjoy lunch today (own cost and choice) at the White Heron Tea Rooms in the village.

This afternoon we will detour into the tiny historic gold settlement of Okarito. Bounded by ocean, estuary and forest, Okarito, population 30, also features the West Coast’s oldest known building, Donavan’s Store, built at the height of the gold rush in 1865. We have time to explore before making our way to the majestic Franz Josef Glacier, where there are a couple of excellent short walking options to view the glacier. Finally we make our way to our enchanting accommodation privately nestled amongst lush rainforest in Franz Joseph Village. This evening we dine onsite at Monsoon Restaurant.

Day 7

Wednesday 16 April - World Heritage South Westland

Today’s travels explore part of the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area – Te Wahipounamu - so designated because South Westland and Fiordland are some of the very best examples in the world of dramatic and beautiful forest and mountain landscapes. We visit Lake Matheson this morning, for that iconic chocolate box view (if conditions permit). An easy graded walking track provides stunning views no matter what the mood of the lake, and afterwards enjoy a cappuccino at the café (own cost today) or a browse of ReflectioNZ Gallery, an art and craft gallery featuring quality NZ products.

Continuing south we travel through magnificent lowland forest, cross numerous swift flowing rivers, and circuit mysterious lakes, darkened by natural tannins from the forest floor leached into the water. Near Lake Paringa we visit South Westland Salmon Farm, where we enjoy a talk about this innovative business farming salmon in a clean and isolated setting. We’ll also enjoy lunch here (included), and where freshly farmed salmon is naturally on the menu.

This afternoon we enjoy more stunning scenery, with stops at locations of interest. Knights Point provides magnificent coastal views, and Ship Creek, a languid stream and boardwalk meandering through dense kahikatea forest, provides the opportunity for a walk. Returning to our retreat at Franz, we once again enjoy the hospitality of our restaurant in the rainforest.

Day 8

Thursday 17 April - Returning to Rotoiti

We start retracing our steps today, our travels north providing a different perspective and with different stops of interest. Our morning tea break today -Tranzit style - is at Ross, another town established during the West Coast Gold Rush, remarkable for the 3kg “Roddy Nugget” found in 1909. A short wander in the historic reserve will uncover the past.

Our lunch stop today is in Greymouth (at own cost) and we will have time for a bit of an explore of the town, including the Great Wall of Greymouth, a wall built to prevent the town flooding, after a devastating flood in 1980. This afternoon we travel inland through prosperous west coast farming country. A leg stretch in Reefton - another delightful West Coast town with a rich history - will break our journey as we return to St Arnaud for our last night together. We will enjoy relaxed dining inhouse this evening, reminiscing on the past week of scenically spectacular travels.

Day 9

Friday 18 April - Homeward Bound

After a leisurely breakfast this morning we will head down to the shores of Lake Rotoiti, before we make our way down the Wairau Valley to Blenheim and on to Picton. Lunch today is in Picton (own choice and expense) prior to departing on our afternoon sailing returning us to Wellington. Finally, we bid our fellow travellers goodbye before being transferred to our home locations.

The cost of the tour includes

All coach travel
Interislander Ferry transfers
Good quality motel or hotel accommodation
2 course or buffet dinners
Full Breakfasts
Morning teas on most days
1 picnic lunch
Denniston “Friends of the Hill“, tour
Kawatiri Experience Museum, entry and tour
Westcoast Treetop Walk, walk and lunch
Waitangiroto Nature Reserve – rainforest tour
South Westland Salmon Farm, lunch and talk

Departure Detail

Tranzit Coachlines (Wairarapa) Ltd, trading as Tranzit Tours
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Cancellations, Postponements and Alterations

Cancellations by the Customer

Cancellations 45+ days before tour departure date – a cancellation fee valued at 15% of your deposit, plus any other fees charged by other providers such as accommodation, ferry, activities etc.
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the Customer is reasonably healthy and/or fit to participate in the tour, and
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