The West Coast & Glaciers for travel agents.
Franz Josef Glacier, the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki and pounamu country around Hokitika — rainforest, glaciers and wild coastline.
What does Explera cover in The West Coast & Glaciers?
Explera DMC New Zealand plans and operates programmes across The West Coast & Glaciers for travel agents — accommodation, transfers, guides and experiences at net B2B rates, confirmed in writing, with the routing, timings and weather contingencies handled by our trade desk.
Last updated: 4 October 2026
The West Coast is a long, narrow strip between the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea: rainforest, glaciers at Franz Josef and Fox, the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki and pounamu (greenstone) carving in Hokitika.
It is also the wettest region in the country, and that shapes how it is sold. We build two-night glacier stays so one bad-weather day does not cost the helicopter flight, and connect the coast with the TranzAlpine at Greymouth and the Haast Pass road to Wānaka and Queenstown.
Agent tip: Sell two nights at Franz Josef or Fox, and present the rain as part of the place — waterfalls and rainforest are at their best in it.
- 01Franz Josef Glacier heli-hikes
- 02Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki
- 03Hokitika Gorge
- 04Pounamu carving in Hokitika
- 05The Haast Pass road to Wānaka
The West Coast & Glaciers — what your clients will experience.
The West Coast is a long, narrow strip between the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea, and it offers some of New Zealand’s most dramatic scenery: rainforest running down to wild beaches, glaciers at Franz Josef and Fox, and the layered limestone Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki.
Franz Josef Glacier is best experienced from the air — on a helicopter scenic flight with a snow landing or a heli-hike — because the glacier has retreated a long way up its valley. The glacier valley walk, the West Coast Wildlife Centre’s kiwi and the rainforest hot pools round out a stay.
Further north, Hokitika is the centre of pounamu (greenstone) carving, a taonga to Ngāi Tahu, with the turquoise Hokitika Gorge and the West Coast Treetop Walk nearby. Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks and blowholes, on the edge of Paparoa National Park, perform best at high tide with a swell.
It is also the wettest region in the country, and that shapes how it is sold. Rain makes the waterfalls and rainforest spectacular but can cancel flights, so we build two-night glacier stays and connect the coast with the TranzAlpine at Greymouth and the Haast Pass road to Wānaka and Queenstown.
Best time to visit
Summer (December to February) is the main season, with long daylight and the best odds for glacier flights. Autumn (March to May) brings settled spells and fewer visitors. Winter (June to August) often delivers clear, still days, though alpine passes can see snow. Spring (September to November) is typically the wettest, windiest stretch — waterfalls are at full power, and flights are more often cancelled.
Getting there & around
Hokitika (HKK) has domestic flights; Franz Josef is about two hours south of Hokitika and around 5.5–6 hours from Queenstown via the Haast Pass. Punakaiki is about 45 minutes north of Greymouth, where the TranzAlpine arrives from Christchurch. Roads are long and winding with single-lane bridges, so we plan conservative driving times with experienced drivers.
The West Coast & Glaciers destination by destination — the trade briefing.
Here is the destination-by-destination trade briefing for The West Coast & Glaciers — what each place leads with, how clients reach it and the selling angle our desk uses. Every name links to the full agent guide.
Franz Josef Glacier (Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere)
Sell Franz Josef Glacier on its signature: a glacier descending towards rainforest, best seen by helicopter or on a heli-hike. The anchor experience is Glacier heli-hike. Access runs via HKK Hokitika, or via Queenstown — around 2 h from Hokitika; 5.5–6 h from Queenstown via the Haast Pass. For the trade: sell two nights so a weather day does not cost the flight. We operate it end to end — transfers, guides and contracted accommodation on one invoice.
Punakaiki
Punakaiki earns its place on a routing with Pancake Rocks and blowholes walk, and the positioning writes itself: the Pancake Rocks and blowholes on the edge of Paparoa National Park. Access runs via Greymouth — around 45 min north of Greymouth; about 4.5 h from Christchurch by road. For the trade: time the stop for high tide if possible — the blowholes need it. We operate it end to end — transfers, guides and contracted accommodation on one invoice.
Hokitika
Hokitika leads with Pounamu carving studio visit — pounamu carving, the turquoise Hokitika Gorge and a gold-rush town on the Tasman Sea. Access runs via HKK Hokitika — around 5 min from Hokitika airport; about 2 h north of Franz Josef. For the trade: pounamu is a taonga (treasure) to Ngāi Tahu — sell carving experiences and purchases from reputable studios that use authentic New Zealand stone. We operate it end to end — transfers, guides and contracted accommodation on one invoice.
3 destination guides in The West Coast & Glaciers.
Franz Josef Glacier (Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere)
A glacier descending towards rainforest, best seen by helicopter or on a heli-hike.
Agent guide
Punakaiki
The Pancake Rocks and blowholes on the edge of Paparoa National Park.
Agent guide
Hokitika
Pounamu carving, the turquoise Hokitika Gorge and a gold-rush town on the Tasman Sea.
Agent guideWest Coast month by month — the agent calendar.
Seasonality decides whether a West Coast programme delights or disappoints, so here is the month-by-month picture our team works from. New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere: summer is December to February and winter June to August. Because West Coast sits on the wet western side of the Southern Alps, rain is part of the experience in every season; summer is the main season, and winter often brings clear, still days but possible road closures in the mountains. Use it to set expectations at the point of sale — clients forgive weather they were warned about.
January in West Coast
High summer in West Coast: mild, around 18–20°C, with long daylight. Rain can fall on any day, but there are more fine spells; peak season for cruises, walks and flights. On the ground, drivers and activity operators are reconfirmed the day before each programme day. Booking note: confirm rooms 60–90 days out for this window.
February in West Coast
Late summer in West Coast: often the most settled month, with good odds for flights and clear views. Popular — book cruises and flights early. On the ground, drivers and activity operators are reconfirmed the day before each programme day. Booking note: family demand spikes — reserve family rooms early.
March in West Coast
Early autumn in West Coast: settled spells and fewer visitors. A strong shoulder month, still with long enough days for full excursions. We check road and weather conditions each morning against every transfer and excursion. Booking note: confirm release dates in writing to protect your allotment.
April in West Coast
Autumn in West Coast: cooler nights, calm mornings and smaller crowds. Keep a weather buffer day for flights. Hotel release dates bite hardest in this window — we flag every deadline in writing. Booking note: a good month for honeymoon upgrades at shoulder pricing.
May in West Coast
Late autumn in West Coast: cool and changeable, with snow beginning on the passes. Good value; confirm road status on alpine routes. We check road and weather conditions each morning against every transfer and excursion. Booking note: confirm release dates in writing to protect your allotment.
June in West Coast
Early winter in West Coast: cold, often clear and still days with snow on the mountains. Alpine roads can close for snow or avalanche risk — we hold fallbacks. Hotel release dates bite hardest in this window — we flag every deadline in writing. Booking note: family demand spikes — reserve family rooms early.
July in West Coast
Mid-winter in West Coast: some of the clearest, calmest days of the year, and few visitors. Road closures in the mountains are possible at short notice. Hotel release dates bite hardest in this window — we flag every deadline in writing. Booking note: confirm rooms 60–90 days out for this window.
August in West Coast
Late winter in West Coast: cold and clear spells, snow on the tops and quiet roads. Good for photography; keep schedules flexible. Weather swaps are decided early, before clients reach the lobby. Booking note: domestic flights and ferries can fill before hotels — sequence transport early.
September in West Coast
Early spring in West Coast: one of the wettest and windiest stretches of the year in many years. Waterfalls are at full power; flights are more often cancelled. Weather swaps are decided early, before clients reach the lobby. Booking note: keep one flex day in the programme for weather.
October in West Coast
Spring in West Coast: changeable weather, lengthening days and powerful waterfalls. Avalanche risk on alpine roads persists into spring — we monitor road status daily. Hotel release dates bite hardest in this window — we flag every deadline in writing. Booking note: confirm rooms 60–90 days out for this window.
November in West Coast
Late spring in West Coast: warming days and the start of the main season. Good conditions for walks and cruises, with rain still likely on some days. On the ground, drivers and activity operators are reconfirmed the day before each programme day. Booking note: confirm rooms 60–90 days out for this window.
December in West Coast
Early summer in West Coast: long daylight and the busy holiday season approaching. Book cruises, flights and rooms early for late December. Weather swaps are decided early, before clients reach the lobby. Booking note: keep one flex day in the programme for weather.
Suggested The West Coast & Glaciers circuits for agents.
Multi-stop routings are where The West Coast & Glaciers earns repeat bookings — one region, several experiences, no wasted repositioning. These two circuits are proven sequences; both reshape freely around your clients’ dates and budget.
The classic circuit
Franz Josef Glacier — Punakaiki — Hokitika (5 nights). The region’s headline act: the anchor destination plus its strongest neighbours, paced for first-time visitors. The programme opens via HKK Hokitika, or via Queenstown and runs as one sequenced booking: a single coordinator, luggage handled at every leg and contracted accommodation throughout. Each stop contributes something different — Franz Josef Glacier for glacier heli-hike, Punakaiki for Pancake Rocks and blowholes walk, Hokitika for pounamu carving studio visit — so the week never repeats itself. Net-rate costing with two accommodation tiers comes back from the trade desk.
The depth circuit
Hokitika — Punakaiki — Franz Josef Glacier (6 nights). For repeat clients and special-interest files: the quieter stops where the region shows its character. The programme opens via HKK Hokitika and runs as one sequenced booking: a single coordinator, luggage handled at every leg and contracted accommodation throughout. Each stop contributes something different — Hokitika for pounamu carving studio visit, Punakaiki for Pancake Rocks and blowholes walk, Franz Josef Glacier for glacier heli-hike — so the week never repeats itself. Net-rate costing with two accommodation tiers comes back from the trade desk.
The West Coast & Glaciers — frequently asked by agents.
How many nights should clients spend at Franz Josef?
Two nights, so that one day of bad weather does not cost the helicopter flight or heli-hike. The glacier has retreated a long way, and clients see it properly only from the air — we set that expectation clearly.
When do the Punakaiki blowholes work best?
Around high tide with a swell running. We time the stop for high tide where the routing allows, and combine it with walks in Paparoa National Park.
How much rain should clients expect?
Rain is frequent in every season on the West Coast, and spring is often the wettest. It makes the waterfalls and rainforest spectacular but can cancel flights, so programmes carry buffer days and alternatives.
Where can clients buy authentic pounamu?
In Hokitika, the centre of pounamu carving, from reputable studios that use authentic New Zealand stone. Pounamu is a taonga to Ngāi Tahu, and we brief clients on its significance before carving visits.
How many nights does a The West Coast & Glaciers programme need?
Plan two to three nights for a satisfying programme — enough to cover the headline experiences without a punishing pace. Shorter visits work as part of a wider New Zealand route; longer ones suit special-interest files. The trade desk will tell you honestly when a wish list needs another night.
What is the best gateway for The West Coast & Glaciers?
Route clients through Hokitika (HKK), or by road and the TranzAlpine from Christchurch, or the Haast Pass from Wānaka. We meet arrivals with a vehicle and driver matched to the group, track the inbound flight, and sequence onward legs so the routing never backtracks. Send your clients’ arrival details and the desk returns the best entry point with the quotation.
Can Explera run series departures in The West Coast & Glaciers?
Yes — glacier flights and coach routings run through the season, with buffer days built in for weather. We build allotment proposals around your expected volumes with sensible release dates, keep suppliers consistent across departures, and agree reporting so you can plan marketing. One contracting conversation can cover the whole season.
What accommodation standard should agents expect in The West Coast & Glaciers?
Set expectations precisely: motels, hotels and a few lodges in small towns — limited stock that fills in summer. We contract the strongest property in each band, state plainly what each delivers, and confirm room types, family rooms and meeting space in writing at booking.