scenic viewpoint
Lake Matheson
Reflective glacial lake near Fox Glacier known for mirror views of Aoraki/Mount Cook, with a car park, cafe and 90-minute loop walk.
7 km · about 15 min drive
OceaniaNew ZealandWest Coast
Waikowhai
West Coast, New Zealand · Oceania
About Waikowhai
Waikowhai works well as a base: 1 hours from Twizel, 11km from Fox Glacier / Te Moeka o Tuawe.
Waikowhai is in West Coast, New Zealand, with about 5,600 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Twizel, about 92 km away.
Where to Stay in Waikowhai
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Explore the Area
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Waikowhai?
Within an hour or so of Waikowhai: Lake Matheson (7 km), Fox Glacier / Te Moeka o Tuawe (11 km), Franz Josef Glacier (25 km), Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park (26 km).
Are there any good drives near Waikowhai?
The nearest famous roads are Haast Pass, Lindis Pass and Arthur's Pass.
Where is Waikowhai?
Waikowhai is in West Coast, New Zealand, about 92 km from Twizel.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 5,550
- Continent
- Oceania
- Country
- New Zealand
- Region
- West Coast
- Timezone
- Pacific/Auckland
- Coordinates
- -43.4500, 169.8833
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in New Zealand
Many rural bridges are single-lane. Give way as signed.
Full driving guide for New ZealandTags
Worth the detour from Waikowhai
6 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
Fox Glacier / Te Moeka o Tuawe
Glacier 25 km south of Franz Josef with a valley access road and car park, on the West Coast section of State Highway 6.
11 km · about 20 min drive
natural wonder
Franz Josef Glacier
Remarkable glacier descending from the Southern Alps into temperate rainforest, one of the most accessible glaciers on Earth.
25 km · about 30 min drive
national park
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
New Zealand's highest peak surrounded by glaciers, turquoise lakes, and alpine starscapes.
26 km · about 30 min drive
film location
Aoraki/Mount Cook (Vertical Limit and mountaineering films)
New Zealand's highest peak and the Hooker Valley approach, used for mountaineering cinematography; the road in from Lake Pukaki is superb.
26 km · about 30 min drive
national park
Aoraki / Mount Cook Village
Village at the end of State Highway 80 beneath New Zealand's highest peak, the trailhead for the Hooker Valley Track.
36 km · about 40 min drive
Driving roads near Waikowhai
4 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- Right hereLake MathesonReflective glacial lake near Fox Glacier known for mirror views of Aoraki/Mount Cook, with a car park, cafe and 90-minute loop walk.
- 61 kmKnights Point LookoutA clifftop pull-in on State Highway 6 south of Fox Glacier looking down on rock stacks, a wild grey beach and seals below. The point where the West Coast road was finally joined in 1965.
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