Major city · New Zealand
Hokitika
Stop one night on the West Coast drive: the gorge, the glowworm dell and a pounamu workshop fill a day; two nights if you want Lake Kaniere.
Hokitika is a small gold-rush town on the Tasman Sea, 3 h from Christchurch over Arthur's Pass and 40 min from Greymouth. Almost everything sits on the crooked main street, Revell Street, so you can park once and walk. It works as a single overnight between the glaciers and the north, or as a wet-day base when the coast rain sets in.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- NZD
- Best months
- Dec–Mar; Feb–Apr for the clearest glacier and gorge days
- avoid Jun–Aug (wet, 8–12 °C (46–54 °F) days); the coast gets 2–3 m of rain a yearavoid Jun–Aug (wet, 46–54 °F (8–12 °C) days); the coast gets 2–3 m of rain a year
- Airports
- HKK · CHC
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- New Zealand ↗Visa-waiver visitors need an NZeTA (with the tourism levy) before travel, including many transit passengers; others need a visa. Apply only through Immigration New Zealand or its official app, and check the rules for your passport.
- New Zealand ↗Declare all food, plant and animal products, and used outdoor gear such as hiking boots and tents, on the New Zealand Traveller Declaration; undeclared risk items bring instant fines.
- New Zealand ↗Drive on the left; give way as signed at one-lane bridges; an English-language licence or one with an approved translation or International Driving Permit is required.
- New Zealand ↗Freedom camping is restricted: sleep in a vehicle only where signed as allowed, and in many places only in certified self-contained vehicles.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Hokitika111 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Hokitika, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZD, NZ$).New Zealand-wide
- SIM or eSIMOne NZ, Spark and 2degrees sell tourist SIMs at Auckland and Christchurch arrivals and in supermarkets; passport not required.New Zealand-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe almost everywhere; follow boil-water notices in small rural schemes.New Zealand-wide
- TippingCafé or restaurant: Nothing expected; 10% for very good service at dinner is a bonus.New Zealand-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets I. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.New Zealand-wide
- SafetyA small, quiet town and one of the safer stops on the West Coast.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets in every town and at most lookouts; DOC long-drops on tracks.New Zealand-wide
- Emergency numbers111 police, fire, ambulance · 105 Non-urgent police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday, ANZAC Day morning and Christmas Day by law; small-town shops close by 17:00 and on Sunday afternoons…Shops closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday, ANZAC Day morning and Christmas Day by law; small-town shops close by 5:00 PM and on Sunday afternoons…New Zealand-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportHKK Hokitika Airport (Air New Zealand flights from Christchurch; the terminal is a 5-min drive north of the centre).
- Getting aroundThe town is flat and small: Revell Street, Weld Street and Tancred Street hold nearly all the shops and cafés, 10–15 min on foot end to end.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeNZ$5–7 (≈ US$3–5)
- BeerDraught beer in a pubNZ$9–12 (≈ US$6–8)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekNZ$20–40 (≈ US$12–25)
- Budget bedHostel or shared-room bed, a night, per personNZ$40 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedMotel or B&B double room, a night, per roomNZ$170 (≈ US$100)
- High-end bedMotel or B&B double room, a night, per roomNZ$280 (≈ US$170)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget NZ$90 (≈ US$55) · Mid NZ$180 (≈ US$110) · High NZ$320 (≈ US$190)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- HKK Hokitika Airport (Air New Zealand flights from Christchurch; the terminal is a 5-min drive north of the centre) · CHC Christchurch Airport (Most travellers drive from here: about 3 h via Arthur's Pass on SH73)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Feb
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Mar
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Apr
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
May
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Jun
Avoid
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Jul
Avoid
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Aug
Avoid
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Sep
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Oct
not flagged
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Nov
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Dec
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Best: Dec–Apr. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)), coolest Jul (4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C) low), wettest Oct (16 rain days), driest Feb (10). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Hokitika: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
12 rd
Feb
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
10 rd
Mar
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
12 rd
Apr
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
13 rd
May
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
15 rd
Jun
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
15 rd
Jul
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
15 rd
Aug
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
15 rd
Sep
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
15 rd
Oct
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
16 rd
Nov
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
14 rd
Dec
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
13 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town is flat and small: Revell Street, Weld Street and Tancred Street hold nearly all the shops and cafés, 10–15 min on foot end to end. You need a car for the gorge, Lake Kaniere, the treetop walkway and the glowworm dell. No local bus network worth planning around; taxis are few, so arrange a pickup if you go out at night.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Hokitika Gorge
goDoor to door: About 30 min each way, plus 30–45 min on the track
Drive SH6 east then the gorge road; 33 km (21 mi), sealed the whole wayDrive SH6 east then the gorge road; 21 mi (33 km), sealed the whole way
Swingbridge and viewing platform, 15 min walk in. The water is turquoise after rain clears; go early to beat the coach groups.
Lake Kaniere and Dorothy Falls
goDoor to door: 20–30 min each way
Kaniere Road east from town, then the lakeside road
Picnic spots, short walks and a multi-step waterfall. Sandflies at the lake edge.
West Coast Treetop Walkway
goDoor to door: About 20 min each way
Drive SH6 south to Woodstock-Rimu Road
450 m steel platform 20 m up in the canopy. Adult NZ$32 (2026 estimate); last entry mid-afternoon.
Greymouth and Shantytown
goDoor to door: About 40 min each way
SH6 north, 40 min to Greymouth; Shantytown is on the way
Greymouth is the West Coast's biggest town and the railhead; Shantytown is a gold-rush heritage village.
Punakaiki blowholes
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min each way
SH6 north past Greymouth
A long return for a short walk; better as a stop on the drive north than a day trip.
Franz Josef and Fox glaciers
overnightDoor to door: 2–2.5 h each way
SH6 south, 2 h to Franz Josef, 2 h 30 min to Fox
Too far for a return day; sleep at the glaciers and continue south.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Revell Street and the town centre
Motels, B&Bs and the pubs; walk to dinner and the beach. Book ahead in March for the Wildfoods Festival.
Beachside, north end of Revell Street
Holiday park and motels near the beach sign; quieter, 15–20 min walk to the shops.
Kaniere Road
3–4 km (1.9–2.5 mi) inland toward Lake Kaniere; cheaper units, you need a car.1.9–2.5 mi (3–4 km) inland toward Lake Kaniere; cheaper units, you need a car.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- NZ$90–140 (≈ US$55–85) excl. bed
- Mid
- NZ$160–250 (≈ US$95–150) excl. bed
- High
- NZ$300 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel or B&B double room1 × 1 night × NZ$170 | NZ$170 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × NZ$180 | NZ$360 |
| Powered campervan site, one night1 × NZ$40 · check | NZ$40 |
| West Coast Treetop Walkway, adult2 × NZ$32 · check | NZ$64 |
| Pounamu carving workshop, per person2 × NZ$120 · check | NZ$240 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × NZ$30 | NZ$60 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | NZ$93 |
| Trip total≈ NZ$514 per person per day, bed included | NZ$1,027≈ US$650 |
2026 estimate in New Zealand dollars; fuel and rental car excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | NZ$5–7 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Café lunch or a toastie | NZ$12–22 (≈ US$8–13) |
| Pub main (fish and chips, burger) | NZ$25–38 (≈ US$15–25) |
| Draught beer in a pub | NZ$9–12 (≈ US$6–8) |
| Supermarket self-catering, per person per day | NZ$20–30 (≈ US$12–18) |
| Petrol, per litre | NZ$2.50–3.00 (≈ US$2) (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | NZ$20–40 (≈ US$12–25) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- West Coast rain is the norm: bring a waterproof shell and expect one wet day in three.
- Sandflies at Lake Kaniere, the gorge and the river mouths; repellent is essential.
- The Hokitika Museum has been closed for seismic work since 2019: check before you plan around it.
- St Mary's Catholic Church has been closed since 2012 for earthquake risk; view it from outside.
- One-lane bridges on SH6 and the gorge road: slow down and read the signs.
- Cell coverage drops on the road to the gorge and south of town.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 111
- Non-urgent police
- 105
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
HokitikaHokitika
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Ki tēnei wāhi, koaTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance111
- Non-urgent police105
Embassy
No embassies in Hokitika; the nearest consulates are in Christchurch, and embassies are in Wellington.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Hokitika → Greymouth by coach: about 40 min; InterCity coaches run the coast (check)
- Hokitika → Christchurch by car: about 3 h via Arthur's Pass, SH73
- Hokitika → Franz Josef by car: about 2 h on SH6
Say or show
- Kia ora — Kia ora — hello / thank you (KEE-ah OR-ah)
- Ngā mihi — Thank you (ngah MEE-hee)
- Koa — Please (KOH-ah)
- Kei hea te wharepaku? — Where is the toilet? (kay HAY-ah teh FAH-reh-PAH-koo)
- E hia te utu? — How much is it? (eh HEE-ah teh OO-too)
- Ka taea te utu ki te kāri? — Can I pay by card? (kah TAH-eh-ah teh OO-too kee teh KAH-ree)
Hokitika is small: fill the tank and buy groceries before 21:00, and book dinner in March when the Wildfoods Festival is on.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Hokitika. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Dec–Mar; Feb–Apr for the clearest glacier and gorge days · avoid Jun–Aug (wet, 8–12 °C days); the coast gets 2–3 m of rain a year · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for HKK: Air New Zealand Christchurch schedule, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Revell Street, Weld and Tancred, the beach and glowworm dell, the gorge road.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Hokitika Gorge, treetop walkway, National Kiwi Centre, Lake Kaniere) and eat pages with last orders.
- Wet-day and hostile-weather fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialWest Coast New Zealand — official regional tourism
- officialDepartment of Conservation — Hokitika Gorge walk
- officialDepartment of Conservation — Lake Kaniere Scenic Reserve
- officialWest Coast Treetop Walkway
- officialThe National Kiwi Centre
- officialInterCity — West Coast coach routes
- secondaryWikivoyage: Hokitika, revision 5237570 (CC BY-SA 4.0)