Nelson to Westport, Punakaiki and Greymouth by Campervan

Quick summary: This campervan and motorhome route carries you from the sunny top of the South Island to the wild West Coast. From Nelson the road crosses into the Buller River valley, follows the river through the dramatic Buller Gorge to Westport, then turns south along the Great Coast Road, one of New Zealand’s most spectacular coastal drives, to the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki and on to Greymouth. It is around 325 km; allow two to three days.

At a glance
Start and end	Nelson to Greymouth via Murchison, Westport and Punakaiki
Distance	Around 325 km (Nelson to Westport around 225 km; Westport to Greymouth around 100 km)
Pure driving time	Around 4 hr 30 min
Recommended time	2–3 days
Road character	Sealed; hilly to Murchison, then a winding gorge road, then a twisting coastal road
Key stops	Hope Saddle, Nelson Lakes detour, Murchison, Buller Gorge Swingbridge, Westport, Cape Foulwind, Punakaiki, Greymouth
Overnight options	Holiday parks in Murchison, Westport, Punakaiki and Greymouth; DOC campsites in Nelson Lakes and the Buller valley
Nearest pickup city	Christchurch
Best for	River gorges, wild coastline, the Pancake Rocks and adventure

Why is this route so rewarding?

Because the scenery keeps getting wilder. The road from Nelson climbs through forestry and farmland into the beech-clad mountains, and at Murchison you meet the Buller River, a big, fast, green river that has carved a deep gorge through the ranges. The road follows it for kilometre after kilometre, clinging to the gorge walls, with rapids below and forest above.

Then you reach the coast, and the Great Coast Road south of Westport is simply stunning: the Paparoa Range on one side, the pounding Tasman Sea on the other, with nīkau palms, limestone cliffs and empty beaches in between. At Punakaiki, the Pancake Rocks rise from the sea in layers like stacked pancakes, with blowholes that roar and spout at high tide.

What are the best stops between Nelson and Greymouth?

Stop	Distance from Nelson	Time to allow	Campervan notes
Hope Saddle lookout	Around 65 km	15 min	Views over the ranges
Nelson Lakes and St Arnaud	Around 90 km (detour)	Half a day to overnight	Alpine lake, jetty, forest walks
Murchison	Around 125 km	1 hour	Adventure base on the Buller River
Buller Gorge Swingbridge	Around 140 km	1 hour	New Zealand’s longest swing bridge
Inangahua Junction	Around 180 km	10 min	Junction in the lower gorge
Westport	Around 225 km	Half a day	Coastal town with full services
Cape Foulwind	Around 237 km (detour)	1–2 hours	Clifftop walk to a fur seal colony
Punakaiki	Around 280 km	Half a day to overnight	Pancake Rocks, blowholes, rainforest walks
Barrytown	Around 295 km	30 min	Small coastal settlement
Greymouth	Around 325 km	Half a day	Largest West Coast town, full services

Nelson Lakes National Park

A short detour from State Highway 6 leads to St Arnaud on the shore of Lake Rotoiti, where a jetty juts into clear alpine water surrounded by beech-forested mountains. It is one of the most peaceful spots in the region, with short walks, a DOC campsite and holiday parks.

Murchison and the Buller Gorge

Murchison is a small town with a big reputation for adventure, set where several rivers meet the Buller. A short drive south, the Buller Gorge Swingbridge is New Zealand’s longest swing bridge, spanning the river; on the other side, walks lead through the forest, and you can return by zipline. Below Murchison, the road follows the gorge closely, with a section where the road passes under an overhanging rock ledge known as Hawks Crag.

Westport and Cape Foulwind

Westport is the main town of the northern West Coast, with supermarkets and services. Just west of town, the Cape Foulwind Walkway follows the clifftops to the Tauranga Bay fur seal colony, where seals and pups can be watched from viewing platforms.

The Great Coast Road

South of Westport, State Highway 6 becomes the Great Coast Road, regularly listed among the world’s best coastal drives. Stop at the many lookouts along the way, where the road hugs the cliffs above the sea and nīkau palms give the coast an almost tropical feel.

Punakaiki and Paparoa National Park

The Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki are the highlight of the drive. A short loop walk leads through flax and nīkau to viewpoints over the layered limestone formations and surge pools; at high tide, with a westerly swell, the blowholes thunder and spout spray high into the air. Paparoa National Park also offers the Truman Track to a wild beach, the Pororari River Track through a limestone gorge, and the Paparoa Track Great Walk.

Greymouth

Greymouth is the West Coast’s largest town and a good place to restock. Shantytown Heritage Park, south of town, recreates a gold-rush settlement with steam train rides and gold panning, and Greymouth’s brewery offers tours and tastings.

What tours and experiences are available along this route?

• White-water rafting and jet boating on the Buller River and nearby rivers from Murchison.
• The Buller Gorge Swingbridge and its riverside zipline.
• Kayaking and canoeing on the Pororari River at Punakaiki.
• Horse trekking along the beaches and through the forest near Punakaiki.
• Caving and glowworm tours around Westport and in Paparoa National Park.
• Gold panning and steam train rides at Shantytown near Greymouth.
• Brewery tours in Greymouth.
• The TranzAlpine train, which runs between Greymouth and Christchurch; see our Arthur’s Pass route guide.

Where can you stay overnight on this route?

• Holiday parks in Murchison, Westport, Punakaiki and Greymouth. Staying at Punakaiki lets you visit the Pancake Rocks at high tide or sunset.
• DOC campsites at Nelson Lakes and along the Buller valley, in forest and riverside settings.
• Freedom camping in a certified self-contained vehicle is available at some West Coast spots where permitted; check locally and see our freedom camping guide.

As on the rest of the West Coast, be ready for sandflies near rivers and beaches.

What are the driving conditions like?

All of the main route is sealed. From Nelson the road climbs over Hope Saddle with many bends. Through the Buller Gorge the road is winding and narrow in places, with rock walls close to the road and some one-lane bridges. The Great Coast Road is twisting, with tight bends around headlands and some sections without a shoulder. Drive at a relaxed pace and use the lookouts to let faster traffic pass.

Heavy rain can cause slips on the gorge and coastal roads. Check road conditions in bad weather. Some side roads, including the road up to the historic Denniston coal plateau, are steep or unsealed; see our guide to roads to check in your rental terms.

Where are fuel, supermarkets and dump stations?

Nelson and Richmond, Murchison, Westport and Greymouth have fuel and supermarkets, with Westport and Greymouth the largest on the coast. Services are limited between Westport and Greymouth, so fill up before you go. See our dump stations and water guide.

How long should you spend on this route?

• Day 1: Nelson to Murchison, around 125 km, with a detour to Nelson Lakes. Afternoon swing bridge or rafting.
• Day 2: Murchison to Punakaiki, around 155 km, through the Buller Gorge, with a stop at Cape Foulwind.
• Day 3: Pancake Rocks at high tide and a Paparoa walk, then on to Greymouth, around 45 km.

Where do you park an RV to see the Pancake Rocks?

There is a large car park beside State Highway 6 at Punakaiki, across the road from the start of the Pancake Rocks walk, with room for campervans and motorhomes. Holiday parks in Punakaiki are close enough to walk back for high tide or sunset.

Which routes connect to this leg?

• Before: Nelson, Tasman and Golden Bay.
• Next, south: the West Coast glaciers from Hokitika, around 40 km south of Greymouth.
• Next, east: Arthur’s Pass from Greymouth to Christchurch.

This leg features in our Auckland to Christchurch in 21 days and whole of New Zealand in 4 weeks itineraries.

Start your South Island trip from Christchurch

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