The West Coast Treetop Walkway lifts visitors into the canopy of the temperate rainforest near Lake Mahinapua. Instead of looking at the bush only from the track floor, you walk along steel platforms and bridges among rimu and kamahi crowns, with a tower that opens wider views toward the lake and Southern Alps foothills.
It is a polished commercial attraction, but it works because the West Coast forest itself is the subject. The walkway is easiest by car from Hokitika and pairs well with Lake Mahinapua, Hokitika Gorge, or the town's greenstone workshops, especially for travellers who want a short nature stop without committing to a long tramp.