Why is South Island West Coast called Wet Coast?
The name Tai Poutini means 'the tides of Poutini' a taniwha or water spirit which swims up and down the West Coast of the South Island protecting both the people and the pounamu.
What ocean is on the west coast of New Zealand?
West Coast, regional council in west-central South Island, New Zealand. It is bounded by the Tasman Sea (west), the unitary authority of Tasman (north), and the regional councils of Canterbury and Otago (east) and Southland (south).
How long is the West Coast of NZ?
600 kilometres The West Coast is where you come for some of the most impressive scenery New Zealand has to offer. The West Coast stretches from Karamea in the north to Jackson Bay in the south, a distance of 600 kilometres in total.
Why is the West Coast so wet NZ?
West Coast is New Zealand's wettest region, and this may be attributed to its exposure to the predominant westerly airflow over the country, combined with the orographic effect of the Southern Alps.
Is Greymouth bigger than Hokitika?
Greymouth is bigger, more choices of restaurants, and more non-tourist shops.
Can you swim in New Zealand beaches?
While New Zealand's waterways need to be treated with respect, you can still enjoy swimming if you make the right decisions and take precautions. We have world-class surf breaks, white- and volcanic-sand beaches, and rivers that are so picturesque you'll never want to leave.
What sea separates Australia and NZ?
The Tasman Sea The Tasman Sea is a marginal sea in that part of the south-west Pacific Ocean that lies between Australia and New Z~aland. The western margin is formed by the coastlines of Australia and Tasmania; the eastern margin by the Norfolk Ridge, the New Zealand coast, and the Macquarie Ridge.
Where is the widest part of New Zealand?
The width of New Zealand is:
- Widest Point – 450 km or 280 miles (New Plymouth to Napier)
- Narrowest Point – 1 km or 0.6 miles (Otahuhu, Auckland)
Oct 16, 2020
Is the West coast a good place to live NZ?
Life on the Coast, hard to beat The West Coast is an amazing place to visit, and it's an even better place to live, work and do business. Come join us and have an untamed natural wilderness for a backyard!
What is the wettest place in New Zealand?
Milford Sound is the wettest inhabited place in New Zealand, and one of the wettest places in the world! The mean annual rainfall in Milford Sound is 6,813mm, and it rains there on average 182 days a year.
What is the coldest city in New Zealand?
The lowest temperature ever recorded was −25.6 °C (−14.1 °F) at Ranfurly in Otago in 1903, with a more recent temperature of −21.6 °C (−6.9 °F) recorded in 1995 in nearby Ophir.
What is Greymouth known for?
Greymouth is the launchpad for exploring the incredible landscapes and industrial history of the West Coast. Highlights include the Pancake Rocks and blowholes at Dolomite Point near Punakaiki. The Pancake Rocks were formed 30 million years ago and are the West Coast's most visited natural attraction.
Why is Hokitika Gorge so blue?
Located a little more than a half-hour away from the town of Hokitika toward the foothills of the Southern Alps, the gorge features brilliant teal water due on a sunny day, and a milkier, less saturated blue color on cloudy days. Both are the result of rock flour suspended in the water.
What is the prettiest beach in New Zealand?
From north to south, here's a few of the many, many stunning beaches.
- Anchor Bay, Tāwharanui Regional Park. …
- Piha Beach, Auckland. …
- Cathedral Cove, The Coromandel. …
- Mt Maunganui, Bay of Plenty. …
- Wharariki Beach, Nelson Tasman. …
- Abel Tasman National Park, Nelson Tasman. …
- Hokitika Beach, West Coast. …
- Koekohe Beach, Waitaki.
Is there crocodiles in NZ?
Rest assured there are no snakes or crocodiles. We do have one poisonous spider (the Katipo) – sightings of which are about as common as that of the Yeti. The most dangerous creature you are likely to encounter is a grumpy possum.
Who discovered NZ?
navigator Abel Tasman From that perspective, New Zealand was first spotted on December 13, 1642 by Dutch navigator Abel Tasman and explored by Captain James Cook in 1769.
Why is the Tasman sea called the ditch?
The Tasman Sea has for many years been referred to as "The Ditch" by Australians and New Zealanders. The exact etymology for this term is uncertain, however when traveling between Australia and New Zealand, it is commonly referred to as "crossing the ditch".
Is NZ bigger than Japan?
NZ is a bit bigger than the size of Great Britain and a little smaller than Japan but almost 36 times smaller than the size of the USA.
Is California bigger than NZ?
New Zealand is about 1.5 times smaller than California. California is approximately 403,882 sq km, while New Zealand is approximately 268,838 sq km, making New Zealand 66.56% the size of California. Meanwhile, the population of California is ~37.3 million people (32.3 million fewer people live in New Zealand).
What is the cheapest place to live in New Zealand?
Top 10 Cheapest Cities in New Zealand to Live in
- Rotorua. With cheap rent, entertainment and food, Rotorua easily tops this list. …
- Napier and Hastings. New Zealand's high-end wine country is surprisingly cheap to live in. …
- Whangarei. …
- Palmerston North. …
- Hamilton. …
- Tauranga. …
- Christchurch. …
- New Plymouth.
What is the nicest place to live in New Zealand?
10 Best places to live in New Zealand
- Rotorua. …
- Auckland. …
- Tauranga/Mt Maunganui. …
- Wellington. …
- New Plymouth. …
- Christchurch. …
- Hamilton. Hamilton often plays second fiddle to Auckland. …
- Dunedin. The final place on our list of best places to live in New Zealand is Dunedin.
What is the rainiest city in NZ?
Milford Sound Milford Sound is the wettest inhabited place in New Zealand, and one of the wettest places in the world! The mean annual rainfall in Milford Sound is 6,813mm, and it rains there on average 182 days a year. Over the course of 24 hours, 250mm of rain can fall in the area.
What is the sunniest town in NZ?
Based on the very latest weather statistics, Whakatane in the North Island's Bay of Plenty district, is the sunniest place in New Zealand, averaging a whopping 7.4 hours of sunshine a day in 2020. The town also records higher temperatures than anywhere else in New Zealand.
Where is the wettest place in New Zealand?
The West Coast of the South Island is the wettest area of New Zealand, whereas the area to the east of the mountains, just over 100 km away, is the driest. Most areas of New Zealand have between 600 and 1600 mm of rainfall, spread throughout the year with a dry period during the summer.
Where is the sunniest place in New Zealand?
The title for the sunniest place in New Zealand is usually won by Whakatane or Nelson, but New Plymouth has taken the top spot for 2021. The Taranaki town outshone Hawke's Bay by about 30 hours to claim the top spot in NIWA's annual climate report, with a total of 2592 hours of sun.
Why is Greymouth called Greymouth?
By 1881 the population of Greymouth was greater than Hokitika's, and since then it has been the largest centre on the West Coast. The town takes its name from the Grey River, and therefore from Sir George Grey.
Is Greymouth NZ worth visiting?
It is a tourist experience, so it will be busy! However, it is definitely one of the best things to do in Greymouth New Zealand. If you are into doing touristy activities then it will be great, but if you like to get off the beaten track then this place probably isn't for you!
Can you swim in the Hokitika River?
Can you swim at Hokitika Gorge? The milky turquoise water of the Hokitika Gorge is tantalizing, and plenty of people do swim, but it should only be done with caution – there are hidden rocks and river currents. After the second swing bridge the trail leads to a small river beach.
Can you walk to Fox Glacier?
It's a short walk. You can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour one-way along a rocky terrain (remember the ice that falls down the glacier break off large boulders and grind at smaller rocks). You sometimes get to skip over rocks to cross a shallow stream!
Does New Zealand have white beaches?
Tawharanui Regional Park, Auckland Get here and you'll be rewarded with some of the country's most beautiful white sand, wildlife, walking tracks and rockpools to explore. Bring your tent and stay the night(opens in new window).