Leaving Hokitika heading north (43 kms) to Greymouth.
From Greymouth it is 102kms to Westport along a scenic ocean drive. 46 kms to your next stop at Punakaki Rocks. A real tourist stop but one well worth seeing. Usually plenty of parking room.
see photos: Punakaki Pancake Rocks
Be sure you fuel up here before going further. Not a bad idea to get something to discourage the sandfly if you haven't already as you will want to walk the beaches. If you are lucky you can find some greenstone in this area.
The drive just south of Punakaiki and north along the coast is one of new Zealand's most spectacular. The route snakes up and down and around many curves crossing rivers and peaking along heights that overlook the scenery. Lots of places to stop and have a look or enjoy a picnic.
Just north of Punakaiki Rocks  a kilometre is the Punakaiki Canoes a canoe/kayak rental business on the Pororari River. Here you can
paddle upriver through the towering limestone cliffs and enter a world of native forest with rata and nikau palms towering over you making you feel you have entered a lost world.
Easy paddling for beginners and families in the lagoon created by the tidal flow. Further upstream you can enjoy shallow rapids. What a beautiful place to get to enjoy the real West Coast scenery away from the crowds. Here is the website for more information:  
Punakaiki Canoes

After you turn from the ocean and head inland the route passes through an area of native forest and scrub. I would suppose this is what the whle area looked like before the influx of settlers. Lots of really great little homes and batches along the road all along this pat of the West Coast.

At Mitchell Valley is a historic gold mine to visit. All kinds of accommodations all along the West Coast. Look for the seams of coal in th cliffs along the road.

The route passes through Runanga where at the Workingman
s Club they provide a dump site for the caravan folks.  The town of Dunollie boast a real sharp backpackers and hotel. Next is Rapahoe
that provides a motor casmp and other accommodations.
 Next in Charleston you will find a great information spot for the area providing a more detailed report on what is in this area.

At Westport Route 6 joins with Route 67. Six kms from the start of route 67 take a left on Route 67A to Cape Foulwind. A walk to the lighthouse is worth it. You might want to visit the seal colony also out there just follow the signs. You will enjoy the family of begging
Weka a most friendly bunch of birds in the parking lot at Cape Foulwind.

The town of Westport is just 11  kms to the north. There is a fine museum there relative to the early coal days that is very interesting.
Be sure to stop by the Information Centre in the centre of the town on Brougham Street. Pick up the finer details of information and meet a friendly staff of helpful people.
For a special right on the beach freedom campsite continue on Brougham Street four streets on the left after the Information Site (Derby Street) turn left and go to the edge of town turning left on Coates Street. You can go out to the mouth of the Buller River from here but just before you pull up on the causeway there is a dirt road to the right that will take you to a well kept private open area just for freedom camping. Have fun!

It is a good trip to stop by two places in Westport, the Miners Brewing Company (Lyndhurst St) and the Coaltown Museum on Queen Street.
There is a dump station at the Fresh Choice grocery and also the best place to pick up essentials in Westport. Off the main road on Fonblanc Street three streets south of Brougham off the main drag.(Get a map from the Information Shop)
Now it is off north toward Karamea..............this is one of our favourite regions in the country from Westport you have to take a side drive up to Denniston (turnoff to the right at Waimangaroa)

see details:Denniston