Kumara Races: every January this historic horse race is held in the town of Kumara. Surrounding the weekend races is a full schedule of entertainment, eating and drinking geared towards family fun. The atmosphere resembles a carnival, with games and street performers keeping things exciting.

Greymouth Summer Fair: this fun family-oriented event is a traditional fair in every sense. Events include wood-chopping competitions, livestock contests and plenty of rides and games. A wealth of tasty food and drink makes this Greymouth’s main summer festival.

Speighs Coast to Coast: this intense endurance race has been going on for over 25 years. It attracts more than 800 competitors each year who want to pit their athleticism against others to see who is the most hardcore. The event starts in Kumara on the West Coast and crosses the South Island. Lots of events are planned in Kumara to kick off this major race.

Art in the Park: each year this big festival attracts more than 50 well known visual and performing artists from around the West Coast to showcase their talents in Greymouth. Painting, sculpting, pottery, and beautiful jade and wood carvings are displayed and sold. The craftspeople ply their trade right there in front of you, while performing artists entertain the crowd. It’s a great event for kids and adults.

Wild Foods Festival: this annual event held in Hokitika is one of the most popular festivals in the West Coast. Locals dress up in period costume and focus on traditional native foods and various forms of entertainment. If you want to try huhu grubs or puha soup, this is the best time and place to do it.

ANZAC Day: probably the most important national holiday in the nation, ANZAC commemorates the day Australian and New Zealand troops landed at Gallipoli in 1915. This holiday is a day to remember the soldiers who have fallen in battle, and every town puts on a civic event to commemorate it.

Best of the West Country Music Awards: the town of Westport becomes the stage for this annual local music event each May. West Coast musicians from all over the region have their chance to perform and win awards during the event. There are lots of free concerts and the whole town turns into party mode during this musical extravaganza.

Queen’s Birthday: this New Zealand national holiday gives everyone in the West Coast a chance to take a day off and relax. There may not be many special events planned in the towns, but you can be sure that the locals will be in good spirits and out and about. The pubs will be a good place to hang out the ‘coasters’ and get to know them better.

West Coast Spinning and Craft Meet: the West Coast is renowned in New Zealand for its amazing craftspeople. This annual event in Reefton brings together the crafts community from all over the region to display their wares, exchange ideas and teach workshops. This is a great time to pick up some great crafts to take back home.

First Light Festival: Reefton was the first town in the southern hemisphere to get electric lights. This annual festival celebrates that distinction with nightly music concerts and a range of food, arts and crafts stalls set up during the day.

Reefton Garden Club Spring Festival: each year as spring makes its way to the West Coast, Reefton transforms its visitor centre into a stunning floral display. The flowers are grown in the surrounding valleys and the many gardeners who live in Reefton come out to give workshops and talk about the local flora. Other fun fair activities accompany the floral side of this 5fiveday event.

Telecom Greymouth International Film Festival: founded in 1977, this nationwide international film festival makes a stop in the West Coast each October. The impressive cinematic offerings include 50 feature-length films and several shorts.

Sausage Festival: the tiny village of Blackball becomes the centre of attention for a brief moment thanks to its famous sausage factory. The town also has an apiary that produces a hugely popular and unique rata-kamahi bush honey. The town comes to life during its one festival, indulging in food, drink, music and good times.

Reefton Summer Festival: the big event for this charming little town includes myriad activities for adults and kids. This is small town entertainment at its best, with treasure hunts, gold panning, mystery walks and heli-hikes. The local artist’s trail puts the town’s many artisans in the spotlight as well.