West Coast Wilderness Trail

A 3 to 4 day ride on the New Zealand West Coast linking Greymouth to Ross via historic goldfields and river valleys.

Time to Ride: Most riders take 3 to 4 days, with the standard route description split into four sections.

Best Time to Go: The main riding season is broadly Apr-Oct, when days are longer and services are easier to line up.

Getting there: Start in Greymouth and finish in Ross (or ride back the same way). Greymouth is the main transport hub on this part of the coast.

Costs: Budget for accommodation, food, and any bike hire or shuttles. The trail itself is publicly funded as part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

Difficulty: Mostly grade 2 (easy) with some grade 3 (intermediate) riding, depending on the section and current conditions.

Funded as one of the projects of the New Zealand Cycle Trail, the West Coast Wilderness Trail connects Greymouth in the north with Ross in the south. The first section, Greymouth to Hokitika, was officially opened on 23 November 2013 at Kumara’s Theatre Royal Hotel.

Riding north to south (the most common direction), you move from coastal riding to inland gold rush country, using old tram lines and historic pack tracks. You pass water races built during the time of the West Coast gold rush, now used for electricity generation, and climb to the trail’s high point at Kawhaka Pass (317 m).

Highlights called out in standard descriptions include the combined road-rail crossing on the Taramakau River Bridge (the last remaining combined road-rail bridge in the South Island), the descent from Cowboy Paradise towards the Arahura River, and a side trip that is part of the official route to the West Coast Treetop Walk near Lake Mahinapua.

• Stage 1: Greymouth to Kumara (30 km) - Starts on the Grey River stopbank near the historic railway signal box, then follows the coast to the Taramakau River. Cross the Taramakau River Bridge and head inland on an old tram line; described as grade 1.
• Stage 2: Kumara to Cowboy Paradise (37 km) - A gentle ascent toward the Southern Alps, passing gold rush-era water races. Uses a historic pack track through the Kawhaka Valley over Kawhaka Pass (317 m), then continues 5 km to Cowboy Paradise; described as grade 2+.
• Stage 3: Cowboy Paradise to Hokitika (36 km) - A fast 4 km downhill to the Arahura River, then a “toughish” 1 km climb out of the Arahura Valley before dropping toward Lake Kaniere. A mix of trail and road leads to Kaniere and then into Hokitika beside the Hokitika River; described as grade 3-.
• Stage 4: Hokitika to Ross (36 km) - Leaves Hokitika via the Hokitika River Bridge clip on and heads south. Where trail sections are incomplete, riders may need to use narrow shoulders on State Highway 6; current descriptions have rated this as advanced in places, with plans for an easier standard once built.
• Optional side trip: West Coast Treetop Walk near Lake Mahinapua - The official route includes a detour to the treetop walk area, useful as a break from steady pedalling and a different angle on the coastal forest.
• Optional highlight (if open/accessible on your ride): Totara River rail bridge - South of Lake Mahinapua, the planned alignment includes an old railway line into Ross and a picturesque 200 m rail bridge over the Totara River.

Apr-Oct is a practical planning window for international visitors, with longer daylight hours and generally easier logistics for multi-day riding.

Conditions can change quickly on the West Coast and some sections may involve road riding (including narrow shoulders on State Highway 6), so build in flexibility for weather and comfort with traffic where required.

Most people ride north to south, starting at Greymouth and finishing at Ross. The official start is on the Grey River stopbank in Greymouth, next to the historic railway signal box.

Plan your return logistics in advance if you are not riding back: Ross is small, and options can be limited compared with Greymouth. If you are linking stages with limited time, consider organising a shuttle around road sections where the trail is not yet fully built.

The route is part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail network; check locally with councils or land managers if you have concerns about access or any permit requirements. The route is part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail network and is typically ridden as a 3 to 4 day, signposted journey broken into four sections.

Expect a mix of purpose-built trail and connecting road riding depending on what sections are complete at the time of your trip. Bike hire, e-bikes, and luggage transfer are commonly sought for multi-day rides on New Zealand cycle trails, but availability and specifics vary by town - confirm locally in Greymouth or Hokitika.

Most riders overnight around the natural stage points: Kumara, Hokitika, and near Lake Kaniere or Ross, depending on how you split the days. Kumara’s restored Theatre Royal Hotel is a notable historic option in the trail story, while Hokitika is the easiest place to find a wider range of accommodation.

In peak travel periods, booking ahead is sensible in the smaller settlements (especially Kumara and Ross), where options are fewer than in Greymouth or Hokitika.