Your event on the West Coast begins with your journey to get here, whichever way you choose, you will be rewarded with breath-taking vistas. The West Coast is easily accessible with direct daily flights from Christchurch and Wellington, or you can enjoy one of the world's most scenic rail journeys, arriving by train from Christchurch on the Tranz Alpine. If travelling by car, you can reach the coast in 3 hours from Christchurch, Wanaka, Queenstown, Nelson, and Blenheim.
Our natural beauty makes us a special destination for conferences and incentives and is an ideal place to visit pre or post conference in Christchurch, Queenstown and Wanaka, or Nelson and Marlborough, Visitors can enjoy the world's most accessible glaciers, five National Parks, a UNESCO Heritage area, rainforests, and geological treasures.
If you are looking for fresh ideas and new conversations, the West Coast is the ideal destination for your next conference or event. The West Coast boasts a variety of distinctive venues including heritage buildings, art deco theatres, community centres, and more. Our region caters best to small-medium sized conferences and events, and our spectacular natural wilderness is an ideal playground for incentives, groups, and corporate retreats.
The West Coast has a variety of accommodations including hotels, motels, luxury lodges, holiday parks, bed and breakfasts, glamping, and campsites. This means we can cater for all budgets and a variety of group sizes.
There are lots of opportunities to explore the natural magnificence of the coast with activities including scenic helicopter flights with glacier landings, jetboating, kayaking, hiking, and off-road driving. For cycling enthusiasts, they can enjoy the West Coast Wilderness Trail and the Old Ghost Road. Some of the coast’s most famous scenery is accessible by easy walking tracks including Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes, Lake Matheson, Fox and Franz glaciers, and the Oparara Arches. For those looking to embrace the culture and arts of the coast you can watch jade carving or even carve your own, knife carving, sample craft beer and locally distilled spirits, and enjoy west coast specialty foods.