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Driving New Zealand
Christchurch - Lewis Pass -
Westland - Nelson.
 HWY
7 runs from Waipara (home to the Weka Pass Railway) on
HWY 1, to Reefton and
Greymouth on the West Coast,
or on to HWY 65 to Murchison and HWY 6 to Nelson and
Blenheim. During winter these roads are occasionally
closed by snow. For travelers in camper vans and
campers, there are many picturesque places stay or camp
out in addition to the camping grounds in most towns.
From Waipara, this excellent
road passes through the picturesque Weka Pass to the
village of Waikari and on through to the northern plains
and through Balmoral forest, a long straight into
Culverden, a popular refreshment and toilet stop
and beware of the traffic police. The
straight is soon left behind (after passing the
Kaikoura
turn off) and the road winds up the Waiau river passing
the Hanmer turn
off
(photo top right).
 Now
the hills increase approaching the main divide and the
forest and mountains provide a grand setting. There are
many walkways including Lake Sumner Forest Park and the
St James Walkway with natural hot springs on the river
edge (opposite the Sylvia stream soon after entering the
Lewis river valley).
The road
winds gently up to the summit of the Lewis Pass and then
down to The Maruia Thermal Resort and on down the Maruia
River to Springs Junction, a popular refreshment and
petrol stop where the road divides.
Springs Junction -
Reefton - Westport - Greymouth
HWY 7 continues over another pass (Rahu Saddle) and down
to Blacks Point and Reefton an old coal and gold mining
town where the dense forest gives way to farmland. From
here HWY 7 continues south through the Grey River Valley
to Greymouth
passing the small farming towns if Mawhwerati, Ikamatua,
Totara Flat, Ahaura, Ngahere (Forest drive turn off to
Arthurs Pass), Stillwater, (turn off to
Moana) Dobson and
Greymouth to join HWY 6.
Reefton - Westport
The right turn at Reefton takes you on to HWY 69 to
join HWY 6 at Inangahua Junction, the epicentre of the
1669 earthquake. Here the plains are left behind as the
road follows the spectacular gorges of the Buller River
down to Westport, or north to
Murchison.
 Springs
Junction - Murchison - Nelson
Turn right and HWY 65 takes you over the Shenandoah
to Murchison and
Nelson. The highlight on this excellent
highway is the Maruia Falls where you can stop just off
the road and a two minute walk gives a good view, of 5 mins takes you to the beach under the falls.
From Murchison you can go
south to Inangahua Junction and Westport, or north
following the upper Buller River where there is a turn
off to the Nelson
Lakes and St Arnaud.
Along this pleasant drive,
the Buller river is left behind after Kawatiri, and the
road follows up over Glen Hope Saddle through the Golden
Downs pine forests and on through many small villages to
Nelson. Calculate actual distances
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Travel Warnings
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