The question needs to be asked: is Coast Road on the West Coast the best water-view drive in New Zealand? Certainly, for pure scenic value, it is head-to-head with the Queenstown to Glenorchy Road, Wānaka to Makarora and Jacks Point to Kingston. It is windy with often spectacular coastal views, bisected by Punakaiki. There are several viewpoints plus some places to access very remote beaches. A must-do in Te Tai Poutini, even in the rain!
Some good places to stop include the Fox River Caves Track entrance at Tiromoana (about a half-day return) and Woodpecker Bay for a great West Coast beach walk experience. There is a particularly memorable group of rocks, which you will see before the viewpoint, so don’t miss the parking place!
From there you can continue on to Tauranga Bay, Cape Foulweather and Westport.
