Haast

This remote area at the southern end of the West Coast has some good hiking trails and offers the chance to see various bird species, including the rare Fiordland crested penguin. It sits beside Mount Aspiring National Park, where the major attractions are outdoors: fishing, bushwalks and the popular Haast River jet boat rides.

There is no real centre to Haast; rather, it is split between three areas. Most of the accommodation is located in Haast Township on State Highway 6, while the Tourist Information Centre is in Haast Junction. Haast Beach is at the end of Jackson Bay Road.