Westport to Greymouth via Punakaiki

If you're up for some underground adventures, stop at tiny Charleston, where you can go on organised caving tours to see glowworms, underground rafting/tubing, and on a rainforest railway. You'll need to book onto a tour in advance: check the Underworld Adventures website.
Underworld Adventures Open 7 days, 9am to 5pm

A must-see attraction on the upper West Coast, the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes have to be seen to be believed. Boardwalks and well-kept tracks at the top of the cliffs put you in a prime position to see the waves shooting up through the layered limestone cliffs below, formed a staggering 30 million years ago. You'll need a ticket to enter, which can be bought at the ticket office across the road from the entrance.

Stop for a stroll on Motukiekie Beach, where there are interesting stacks, arches, cliffs, and other rock formations, and rock pools at low tide. The timing of the tide will determine how much time you can spend here, though: a full beach walk is only possible at low tide.

Welcome to Greymouth, the big smoke of the West Coast! This mid-sized town has a few decent places to eat, but by far the most popular is Monteith's Brewery, a famous-in-New Zealand producer of beer for generations. Stop by for lunch or book yourself a table for dinner later.
Monteith's Brewery Ph: 03 768 4149 Open 7 days, 11am to 9pm

After a filling lunch, hit the road again for a detour to Lake Brunner, inland. This picturesque lake, and the small village of Moana on its north-eastern shore, is a lovely place to enjoy the views, go boating or swimming, or to hike.

Back in Greymouth, head to the riverside promenade for an evening stroll before heading into town for dinner.

If you're not still full from lunch at the Monteith's Brewery, enjoy a stylish dinner at Sevenpenny.
Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 07:00 am – 09:00 pm Monday, Sunday: 07:00 am – 05:00 pm

Greymouth is quite compact so by staying at a central-city, such as the Railway Hotel, you can walk to the shops, restaurants and bars.