Over recent years the West Coast has become the events capital of the South Island and the nearby town of Hokitika has many annual events that have been known to draw crowds of up to 5 x the town's population. The range of events on the West Coast is incredibly varied, from festivals showcasing local wildfood cuisine to internationally renowned multi-sport events, the West Coast really has a lot going on. Here is a brief overview of just some of these regular events:
West Coast Whitebait Season:
Every spring on the West Coast the spawning native trout rush from the ocean back into the West Coast river systems. They are met by throngs of people who stand ready to catch as many 'shoals' as possible. It is a New Zealand delicacy that takes control over peoples lives for 2 months of the year. You can walk along the river banks close to the ocean and discover for yourself what the whitebait means to the local residents, it is an excuse to leave work early (or not go at all) to stand next to your colleagues or neighbours and fish the incoming tides.
It's a little like gold fever and every region of the West Coast gets hit by it. Some industry completely shuts down for the season and it's not uncommon when trying to book meeting with local doctors, lawyers, mechanics and dentists that the receptionist will apologise and say that the office is closed as the whitebait is "running". A common term here that means the towns have all dispersed to the river banks to fish. The whitebait season has an incredibly social effect on the West Coast and it's people, if you are looking to visit the area in the spring time make sure you plan it around the whitebait season. Tony, our head guide will be glued to a rock for these months and always loves having some company down by the river, depending on how he goes, whitebait should be on the nightly menu!
Hokitika Wildfoods Festival:
The Wildfoods Festival is famous for the special West Coast food that is on offer. At the festival you will find possum pies, huhu grubs, cows' udders, Chatham Island seagulls, bull, lamb and goat testicles, gorse flower wine, gourmet garden snails and magpie pies. There is also plenty of West Coast whitebait for those not so keen to try the interesting wild foods.
The Speights Coast To Coast multisport race:
The Speight's Coast to Coast is the world's premier multi-sport event. The Speight's Coast to Coast traverses the South Island of New Zealand from Kumara Beach on the Tasman Sea to Sumner Beach on the Pacific Ocean. Over either two days (individuals or two person teams) or the one-day event (individuals only), competitors cycle 140 kms, run 36 km (including a 33 km mountain stage that crosses the Southern Alps) and kayak 67kms of the grade two Waimakariri River through the Grand Canyon of New Zealand, the Waimakariri Gorge.
Other great local events are:
- Artzfeva
- Wet West Film Fest
- Kumara races
- Southern Traverse
You can take advantage of Kawhaka Lodge's central location to attend any of these local events. We can arrange all your tickets, catering and transport for any of these events. Feel free to contact us with any queries.
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