Rising proudly on Te Waipounamu, the Southern Alps run the length of the island, forming the great divide between our East and West coasts - boasting towering peaks, pristine glaciers and awe-inspiring landscapes that leave us forever inspired...
When travelling from the East coast to the West, the change in landscape is profound. Leaving the flat, dry plains of Canterbury and climbing sharply into the mountains, before emerging into the rugged, untouched beauty of the West - you would be forgiven for thinking you were in another country entirely, rather than a short 3hr drive away.
Drawing inspiration from our founder Tessa's home province, we set out to immerse our senses in the magic of this region with our latest Limited Edition fragrance - West Coast.
The untamed wilderness of lush, native rainforests and invigorating Tasman Sea winds are captured in this grounding fragrance - with the soft green earthiness of nikau palm and harakeke, topped with crisp top notes of ozone and sea salt - before settling into a deep, woody base of moss, amber and driftwood.
If our West Coast fragrance has left you wanting more, Tessa (a born and bred Coaster) has shared her top spots to stop when visiting the coast...
Eat
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"Harass my brother Lucas at Hokitika Town Chip". Stop in and get yourself some goodies (elephant fish, corn balls and a chocolate explosion are always on the top of Tessa's list), then head to the beach for sunset.
- Say hi to Joseph at Hokitika Sandwich Company, but be sure to get your order in early (you can order online) as they sell out fast!
"It's well worth the hype for these fresh cut sandwiches made to order with quality local ingredients". Enjoy the bottomless Havana filter coffee while you wait for your order. Either eat right away or take your sammie to go and enjoy a picnic at Lake Kaniere or take with you for your West Coast Wilderness Trail adventures.
Drink
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Thatcher & Small is the place for your caffeine fix. This new cafe/bar/restaurant is named after the songwriter, Charles Thatcher and his comedic Irish sidekick, Joe Small - who often performed at the premises in the mid 1800s.
- The Beachfront Hotel is Tessa's favourite spot to linger over a sunset aperitif on the balcony (weather dependant of course).
Do
- Grab a bike from Donna at West Coast Cycles & Tours and explore the West Coast Wilderness Trail. "Do as little or as much as you like and take advantage of their shuttle service to save your legs!" E-bikes available too so great for all levels of fitness.
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Hokitika Gorge is a must-see, but don't bother if there's been a couple of days of rain prior - the water will not be blue!
- Take a fish and chip picnic to Sunset Point but don't rush away after the sun disappears, a lot of the magic can happen after the sun goes down.
Shop
- Hokitika is full of some incredibly creative people and great galleries. Wilderness Gallery owners Juergen and Monica (originally from Germany) first came to New Zealand as backpackers and immediately fell in love. It's a beautiful gallery to visit for some local art photography.
- At IaNZart, Ian Phillips is a true craftsman - making sculpture by bending, beating and burning copper. Ian operates his gallery/workshop out of the old BNZ Bank building (built in 1905). An amazing process to watch him work with incredibly unique sculptures of all shapes and sizes.
- Pop in and see Karen at SunshiNZ - a beautiful store located in the heart of Hokitika, where you'll find a carefully hand selected collection of clothing and giftware. They are also proudly the West Coast's only stockist of Nevé home fragrance.
For Something Weird
- If you're driving from the East Coast, stop in to look at the strange collection at the Otira Hotel - you can even stay the night if you wish! Self-proclaimed to be NZ's Most Interesting Hotel. They're not wrong.
The Coast's Best Kept Secret
- If you love strawberries, then you absolutely have to stop in at Strawberry Frames, located just past the Kumara Junction. Quite a small operation, all the strawberries are sold fresh at the front gate - picked in the morning and sold out soon after.
