Nelson and the North to the Glaciers by Campervan: The Buller Gorge and the Coast

Quick summary: For campervan travellers arriving on the Cook Strait ferry or picking up in Nelson, the West Coast glaciers are reached by one of New Zealand’s great coastal drives. The road follows the Buller River through its forested gorge to Westport, runs down the coast past Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks to Greymouth, and continues through Hokitika to Franz Josef. It’s around 460–500 km from Nelson, best taken over two or three days in a campervan or motorhome.

At a glance
From Nelson to Franz Josef	Around 460 km via Reefton, or around 500 km via Westport and the coast
From Picton	Add around 110 km to Nelson
Highlights	The Buller Gorge, Cape Foulwind, Punakaiki, Hokitika
Best overnight stops	Murchison, Westport, Punakaiki, Greymouth, Hokitika
Suggested time	2–3 days
Tours	Franz Josef Glacier tours

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What is the route from Nelson to the glaciers?

Stage	Distance	What’s there
Nelson to Murchison	Around 125 km	Hop gardens, forest, the upper Buller
Murchison to Westport	Around 100 km	The Buller Gorge, swing bridge, river views
Westport to Punakaiki	Around 55 km	Cape Foulwind’s seal colony, the coast road
Punakaiki to Greymouth	Around 45 km	The Pancake Rocks and blowholes
Greymouth to Franz Josef	Around 175 km	Hokitika, Ross, Whataroa

For a quicker route, turn south at Inangahua and drive through Reefton to Greymouth, missing the coast.

Which RV route through the Buller is best?

The coast road via Westport and Punakaiki is longer but far more scenic, with some of the most dramatic coastline in the country. The inland route via Reefton is shorter and quieter, through old gold-mining country. If you have the time, take the coast; if you’re heading straight for the glaciers, Reefton saves around 40 km. Both are sealed, with winding sections and one-lane bridges in the Buller Gorge.

What are the highlights on the way?

• The Buller Gorge, with its long swing bridge across the river near Murchison.
• Cape Foulwind, near Westport, with a clifftop walk to a fur seal colony.
• Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks, layered limestone stacks and blowholes in Paparoa National Park.
• Hokitika, with its beach, pounamu galleries and the turquoise Hokitika Gorge inland.

For the full coast route, see our sister site’s Buller and Paparoa route.

Where can you stay?

• Murchison, a small town at the start of the Buller Gorge.
• Westport and Punakaiki, on the coast.
• Greymouth and Hokitika, with holiday parks and full services.
• Freedom camping is possible only at a few permitted sites, generally in certified self-contained vehicles, where Buller, Grey or Westland district councils or DOC allow it.

Can you start in Picton?

Yes. From the Picton ferry terminal, drive to Nelson via Havelock, around 110 km, or head west from Blenheim. Picton is a pickup location, so you can cross Cook Strait as a foot passenger and collect a campervan there.

Where does the trip go next?

South from Greymouth to Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, then over the Haast Pass to Wānaka and Queenstown.

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Frequently Asked Questions