A romantic West Coast break

First stop, Reefton. A pretty little former gold rush town, with an array of heritage buildings now housing quirky shops, charming hotels and places to eat and drink. Visit Reefton Distilling Co. for a tour and sip of their tasty gin, made with locally foraged botanicals and West Coast rain water. The local visitor centre has a little replica mine and plenty of helpful tips for exploring the vast Victoria Conservation Park surrounding Reefton on foot or by mountain bike.

Continue through the Buller Gorge on your way to Westport. Take a tandem zip line over the rushing Buller River, or cling on to your partner on the exhilarating Buller Canyon Jet Boat Thrill Ride.

Near Westport, walk the Cape Foulwind Walkway to New Zealand’s largest fur seal colony. Adventurous couples will enjoy the magical experience of floating through caves lit up by thousands of glow-worms at Underworld Adventures.

Bring a bottle of wine aboard a sunset cruise of lovely Lake Mahinapua with West Coast Scenic Waterways. Ancient native trees, flourishing bird life and snow-capped mountains provide a backdrop to this peaceful potter through the waterways. Stay the night and take a ride on the West Coast Wilderness Trail in the morning.

There’s more water to explore en route to Franz Josef, stop in at Ōkārito for a gentle paddle or cruise through New Zealand’s largest unmodified wetland. Framed by lush forest and snow-capped peaks, the lagoon is home to many rare bird species including the elegant kōtuku / white heron.

Franz Josef township is a great base from which to explore the glaciers. Take a hike on ice or scenic flight, then retreat to a luxury tree house at Rainforest Retreat. Soak in your own private spa pool under the stars, or book a tub at the wood-fired Waiho Hot Tubs.