Westport: 101km (63 miles) N of Greymouth; 226km (140 miles) SW of Nelson
The drive to Westport (pop. 6,000) is better than actually arriving here. This funny little township is slightly shabby and smells of coal. I think calling it the "Adventure Capital of the West Coast" is stretching it a bit, but the area's mild climate and coastal to subtropical mountain scenery do provide an ideal setting for outdoor activities such as white-water rafting, jet-boating, horse trekking, caving, and rock climbing. For the not-so-adventurous, there are excellent sea and river fishing, gold panning, and a variety of scenic and historic walks.
