The west coast - NZ
The West Coast / Te Tai Poutini is a sparsely populated region of New Zealand situated on the west coast of the South Island. It is west of the main divide of the Southern Alps, accessible via Arthur's Pass and Lewis Pass in the north, and Haast Pass in the south. The region includes Westland Tai Poutini National Park which is one of four parks to make up the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Site.
The region boomed during the West Coast Gold Rush in the late 1860s. Tourism is a growing part of the region's economy in more recent history, the region's rugged landscape being host to many attractions of unique natural significance. These include the Hokitika gorge, Pancake Rocks and the Franz Joseph / Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere and Fox / Te Moeka o Tuawe glaciers.
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