New Zealand West Coast

Fox Glacier township/Weheka, 6 km away from the glacier, functions mainly as a service centre for tourists, though it also services the local farming community, which had been its main focus until the 1990s (though tourism started as early as the late 1920s). The approximate township site had been gazetted as early as 1866. Bruce Bay is 46 km to the south-west of the township, and Franz Josef is 23 km north-east. State Highway 6 runs through the town.

Greymouth is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The town is located at the mouth of the Grey River, on a narrow coastal plain close to the foot of the Southern Alps. In clear weather, Aoraki / Mount Cook can be clearly seen to the south from near the town. The mouth of the river divides the town into three areas: Blaketown, close to the river's mouth on the south bank; Karoro, to the southeast, separated from Blaketown by a series of small estuarine lakes; and Cobden, formerly a separate town, on the river's north bank.

Westport is a town in the West Coast region of the South Island of New Zealand. Economic activity is based around fishing, coal mining and dairy farming. Historically, gold mining was a major industry, and coal mining was much more extensive than today. However, the region still is home to New Zealand's largest opencast mining operation in Stockton. Tourism has some famous destinations in this area, such as the Oparara Basin Arches, and Cape Foulwind with its large fur seal colony (on Tauranga Bay and Buller Bay as well). Rafting and jetboating in the Buller Gorge are also popular.

Hokitika is a township in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island, 40 kilometres (25 mi) south of Greymouth, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika River. The Hokitika Sock Machine Museum in town has on display a collection of antique sock-knitting machines and invites visitors to knit their own socks. Hokitika now boasts one of South Island's best 3D digital cinemas, the Regent Theatre, due to volunteer hours and grants from the Westland development trust, Lions foundation, Lottery's commission, the Major District Initiative and pub charity. The Art Deco theatre narrowly avoided being demolished, thanks to a last-minute coup in the management committee.

Karamea is a town on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Tourists visit Karamea all year round to enjoy the many scenic attractions in the region, which is enveloped by the Kahurangi National Park. One of New Zealand's nine "Great Walks," the Heaphy Track starts (or finishes) at the Kohaihai River, which is about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Karamea. The Wangapeka Track also begins (or ends) near Karamea. The Oparara Basin with the Oparara Arches, Honeycomb Caves and rainforest walks is also a popular attraction. Tourism is a fast-growing segment of the local economy, and the region is often said to be "New Zealand's best-kept secret".