The majority of people visit Hokitika for one reason: its magnificent gorge. But what if we were to tell you there’s so much more to Hokitika than that? Spend a little longer and you’ll discover gorgeous lakes with mountain backdrops, a picturesque waterfall, several incredible glow worm dells and a second secret gorge -with the same amazing blue water as the main gorge - but none of the crowds.
Here are all the best things to do in Hokitika to help you plan the perfect trip.
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1: Discover the secret gorge
2: Feel the magic of the secret glow worm dell
3: Admire the gorgeous Dorothy Falls
4: Kayak the mirror waters of Mahinapua Creek
5: Be wowed by the blue water of Hokitika Gorge
6: Catch a sunset from Sunset Point
7: Check out the beautiful Lake Kaniere
8: Take a dip in the calm waters of Canoe Creek
9: Marvel at one of New Zealand’s best glow worm dells
10: Take a peek at New Zealand’s national bird
11: Try the best sandwich on the South Island
12: Explore the old gold mining tunnels of the Tunnel Terrace walk
Things to do in Hokitika
1. Discover the secret gorge
Everybody knows about the spectacular Hokitika Gorge, but few people realise there is a second incredible gorge, with the same electric blue water (in fact it was even bluer on our visit!) and none of the crowds.
It’s probably the worst named attraction in New Zealand, but trust us Cesspool Gorge is a real beauty.
It’s a little harder to get to than Hokitika Gorge, as the walk is longer at 7km return, but the trail itself is easy and the reward is huge.
The gorge is just sensational and there’s a particularly fun swing bridge across it, which just so happens to be the wobbliest one we’ve been on in New Zealand!
2. Feel the magic at the secret glow worm dell
Picture this: you walk through a tiny tunnel in an innocuous looking cliff wall and when you emerge, it’s like you’ve entered another world. This one has mossy walls which are covered in hundreds and hundreds of twinkling blue lights. It’s like something from Alice in Wonderland.
There’s nothing like the magic of standing looking at what feels like an incredible starry night sky and not having to share the experience with another soul.
Whilst Hokitika does have a particularly famous glow worm dell - which is wonderful, and mentioned later in this post - it does get very busy.
If you’re like us and you prefer to visit places without the crowds, then you’ll want to head to the Rimu glow worm dell instead (or preferably as well!).
The Rimu dell is reached via a very short (three minute) walk and all the details are in this post.
3. Admire the gorgeous Dorothy Falls
Dorothy Falls is a gorgeous waterfall that tumbles through a narrow chasm in the Lake Kaniere Scenic Reserve.
It’s reached via a one minute walking track, which is very easy, and takes you right to the base of the falls. It almost feels wrong that a spot this beautiful can be reached so easily!
Once you’re close enough to feel the spray, you can really take in the majesty of the falls, surrounded by picturesque fern and moss covered cliff walls. It’s a stunning spot and also an easy one to visit even in heavy rain, which is when we stopped by.
The last 4km to get there is along a gravel road, but it’s very well maintained and suitable for any car. Just take it slowly because it is a little windy and narrow.
4. Kayak the mirror waters of Mahinapua creek
Pick a still day and take to the waters of Mahinapua creek. We couldn’t get over the perfect mirroring which happened throughout virtually the whole waterway.
It would be a pretty kayak trip regardless, but the reflection of the trees, plants and clouds added real wow factor to the journey.
The Mahinapua creek leads into Lake Mahinapua and if the weather is co-operating you’ll be treated to a spectacular mountain panorama.
Unfortunately for us the mountains were hiding behind a thick layer of cloud, but we both agreed the creek kayaking was worth it in its own right and the mountain view would have been the cherry on top, rather than the main event.
It took us a little under two hours to kayak to the lake and back, but you could extend the trip by paddling around the lake too.
We rented our kayak from West Coast Scenic Waterways, who were fab. We were given a four hour time slot (but told we could go longer as no one booked after us) and all the gear we needed.
5. Be wowed by the blue water of Hokitika Gorge
Hokitika Gorge is phenomenal and I don’t think anyone visits the area and doesn’t stop here. Although we’ve never been lucky enough to see it at its bluest, it’s still been jaw-dropping every time.
The 2km loop walk around the gorge is really easy and takes you over two epic swing bridges. Along the way you’ll also pass through beautiful native forest and visit several lookouts.
The most photogenic of which is the rocky area that you regularly see on social media. Just watch out for the insane sandflies!
We have all the details on the walk, tips for photographing the gorge, and details about water colour in this post.
6. Catch a sunset from Sunset Point
We didn’t often get lucky with sunsets on the West Coast, that is until we got to Hokitika and saw two absolute beauties in a row.
The sunset viewpoint looks out on to the wild ocean and it’s mesmerising to watch as the sun slowly sinks into the water.
What makes watching a sunset here so great - besides the view - is that you can drive right up to it.
This means that even when the sky looks like it will be a dud, if something changes you can drive three minutes out the town centre and you’re there - which is exactly what we did when a dull grey sky suddenly lit up with the most intense pinks and purples of our whole trip!
7. Check out the beautiful Lake Kaniere
Lake Kaniere is stunning and you’ll want a clear day to make sure you get to see the beautiful mountain backdrop.
There are lots of places you can admire it from, but our favourite was the little wooden jetty on Sunny Bight Road.
There was even a cute little swing if you’re travelling with kids (I admit that I did try it myself but it’s a little small!). The walk to the jetty is less than a minute from the parking area and it’s a really serene spot.
The lake does have a wonderful mountain reflection if you’re visiting on a very calm day. Sadly I’ve only seen it in photos as we had quite a breeze both visits.
As with most places around Hokitika, you will want to bring some repellant with you as there are sandflies (although nowhere near as bad as at the gorges!).
8. Take a dip in the calm waters of Canoe Creek
If you’re looking for somewhere quiet and picturesque for a bit of wild swimming, then Canoe Creek is a great choice.
Although you can swim at lots of points around Lake Kaniere, Canoe Creek is secluded, which gives it a special feel. You can’t tell from our photo because it was pouring with rain, but the water is actually crystal clear!
The walk to get there is through pristine forest and it’s a very easy 650m each way, along a well maintained trail. We visited after heavy rainfall and didn’t have to contend with any mud, which is always a win on the West Coast!
You can then step straight off the trail and into the crystal clear water. It’s very shallow at first so it’s also good for a paddle.
9. Marvel at one of New Zealand’s best glow worm dells
So even though we fell in love with the hidden glow worm dell mentioned above, you can’t come to Hokitika and not check out the main Hokitika glow worm dell.
It’s one of the best in New Zealand for the sheer size and number of glow worms.
It’s a very easy 150m walk each way, along a gravel path, and then you’ll be standing in what feels like a glow worm amphitheatre. There are hundreds upon hundreds of them and the result is simply spectacular!
The only downsides are the crowds and the fencing - both of which we go into in this post, with tips on how to get the most out of your experience.
10. Take a peek at New Zealand’s national bird
I do have slightly mixed feelings about this entry because although the kiwi viewing is amazing, and it’s done in conjunction with the Department of Conservation, the rest of the experience at the National Kiwi Centre is not up our street.
Let’s start with the kiwi, because that’s why we’ve included it. The kiwi can be viewed in a nocturnal house and it’s at eye level, so it’s a really special experience.
You feel like you can see the kiwi on their level and honestly it was wonderful. And very importantly, the kiwi are released into the wild after four years, so they are not captive, otherwise we wouldn’t have visited.
The bit we didn’t like was that the rest of the centre was more like an aquarium and you could also catch and release koura. It felt like a zoo and that’s just not our thing.
11. Try the best sandwich on the South Island!
It’s pretty rare that we include food in our guides, but honestly the Hokitika Sandwich Shop is something special!
It is easily the best sandwiches we’ve eaten in New Zealand and a very worthy addition to your Hokitika itinerary.
The bread is homemade and delicious and all the ingredients just taste like top quality. The flavour combos are great and they were so lovely about making me up a custom veggie option!
The only thing they don’t have is barista made coffee, but instead you’ll find very good drip coffee with free refills and lovely tea options too.
The staff were delightful and the ambience was really relaxing, in short, if this was my local sandwich shop, I would struggle not to head in there everyday!
12. Explore the old gold mining tunnels of the Tunnel Terrace Walk
I was really looking forward to this short easy loop walk, which takes you through some cool old gold mining tunnels.
However, sadly it was closed due to rockfall on our visit. The track has since partially re-opened, but we didn’t have a chance to visit personally.
I still wanted to include it as it has such great reviews and sounds like it would be a really fun trail. If you love it and want to do another similar walk, you could do what we did and drive over to the Woods Creek Track (which is where our photos are taken).
It’s a little further away, but was a fab easy walk, with plenty of tunnels and gorgeous mossy forest to explore.
It’s a 1.2km loop trail and we absolutely loved it! Look out for the smattering of glow worms in the deeper parts of the tunnels.
Where to stay in Hokitika
Jade Court Motor Lodge
We stayed in the Jade Court Motor Lodge a few times and it was great. It’s reasonably priced, central and very clean. We preferred the slightly more modern spa suite rooms, but they only had a hob, whereas the non spa rooms had an oven as well, so it depends how much that matters to you.
You can check out the reviews and prices on:
Beachside Apartment
If you’d like your own apartment, this one is right by the beach and has a kitchen, great outdoor dining area and even a washing machine. It gets rave reviews and is walking distance to the town centre.
You can check out the reviews and prices on:
Getting to Hokitika
Hokitika is located on the West Coast, roughly 135km and a 1 hour 40 minute drive from Franz Josef and a 250km, 3 hour 15 minute drive from Christchurch.
