Greymouth is the second largest town on the West Coast and sits right at the mouth of the Grey River. If you're taking the TranzAlpine train from Christchurch, this is where you’ll roll in!

There are other places along the West Coast that are more beautiful (and have much more to do), so I don't recommend staying in Greymouth overnight. But, it's a must-stop to fill up your car, groceries, etc, as smaller towns on the West Coast, Franz Josef, are notoriously expensive!

If you do want to spend a little bit of time here, the Point Elizabeth Walk is an easy two-hour trail through forest and past old gold mining sites that ends at Rapahoe Beach.

If you're hungry, Monteith’s (a household name in NZ) has a brewery in Greymouth and they serve a huge selection of beer on tap as well as lots of tasty "pub" food.