The West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island arguably boasts the greatest range of the country’s natural attractions, from the warm, temperate nikau palm forests at Karamea to the cool beech forests of Haast, from the alpine heights of Arthur’s Pass to the dramatic Paparoa coast with glaciers that descend into valleys filled with unique podocarp rainforests and pristine lakes and lagoons.

This book presents an introduction to the West Coast’s physical environment, plants, and animals, and it provides a guide to the walks—short, easy paths as well as longer, more demanding trails—lakes, lagoons, and highways of the remote yet accessible region. These attractions will appeal to bird watchers, botanists, natural historians, ecologists, and nature hikers.