The West Coast gets plenty of southern and western swells coming up from the deep south, providing very consistent surf. It is uncommon for the West Coast to be flat. The West Coast doesn't have the population of the larger East Coast cities; therefore, rarely becomes crowded in the water. It's not hard to find good surf to yourself. All the main surf spots can be found between Greymouth and Karamea, with the areas further north or south not quite as accessible.

The South Island's West Coast is often renowned for being the "Wild West", with more frequent bad weather and heaps of rain. However, don't let this put you off, as although the West Coast does get a bit of rain, it also sees its share of sunshine and can become quite warm, with parts of the West having an almost subtropical feel. This is also the reason the West Coast has its beautiful, thick, lush bush, providing a stunning backdrop to your surf missions. 

When the surf is flat, be sure to check out the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes in Punakaiki, best at high tide. Visit Shantytown and try your hand at gold panning or check out the glowworms at night near Hokitika.