Westland Tai Poutini National Park

WESTLAND TAI POUTINI NATIONAL PARK ACTIVITIES AND TRAVEL | Westland Tai Poutini National Park Information

Westland Tai Poutini National Park is about half way down the South Island of New Zealand on its West Coast. It extends from the highest peaks of the Southern Alps to the remote beaches of the West Coast.

Westland Tai Poutini National Park forms part of Te Wahipounamu South-West New Zealand World Heritage Area. It is an area of magnificent ancient vistas such as snow-capped mountains, glaciers, forests, tussock grasslands, lakes, rivers, wetlands and beaches.

There are more than 60 glaciers in the Westland Tai Poutini National Park. The fast-moving Fox and Franz Josef glaciers are a major reason to visit. They move up to four metres every day, which is uncommonly rapid. At the foot of each glacier, you can hear the grinding, crushing sounds of ancient ice forcing itself down the time-worn valleys.

Between the glaciers and the sea, the park is great for bird watching. Rainforest and large areas of wetland act as a refuge for rare species such as the Okarito Brown Kiwi, Southern Crested Grebe (kamana) and White Heron (kotuku).

Westland Tai Poutini National Park History

Westland Tai Poutini National Park was established 1960. The glaciers stem from snowfields high in the Southern Alps, but Maori legend says that a beautiful girl named Hinehukatere loved the mountains in this park and encouraged her lover, Tawe, to climb them with her. He slipped and fell to his death and Hinehukatere's tears formed the glaciers. The area is known as "Ka Roimata o Hinehukatere" - the tears of the avalanche girl.

Main Towns in the West Coast Region

Oher Towns in the West Coast Region