ABOUT
What’s it all about??
It’s about a fun festival at Labour Weekend, a welcome long weekend for all New Zealander’s coming out of winter falls during the West Coast’s whitebaiting season. The fish are running, the catch is fresh, the Westport locals only too happy to share the prized delicacy and the tales of the ones that got away. It’s about the perfect time and place to entice visitors along to enjoy a long weekend of whitebait, friends and festival fun.
Established in 2015 the festival has built a reputation of fun for young and the young at heart. In 2021 a revamped and rejuvenated Westport Whitebait Festival was about celebrating the town of Westport and it’s locals, they’re legends.
It’s all about combining the iconic West Coast experience centred on fresh whitebait, fabulous food, top entertainment and extraordinary experiences in the naturally beautiful wild West Coast.
Come Savour the West Coast flavour!
Regional Information
Westport is the Northern coastal township located near the mouth of the mighty Buller/Kawatiri River. While keeping it’s small town feel there is a large town centre with restaurants and cafes, services and accommodation.
For visitors, there’s our famous West Coast hospitality and a mind-boggling array of adventure and recreation possibilities to suit all tastes – with wild and tranquil rivers, dramatic seascapes and impressive wilderness all close by. Those new to the festival will be encouraged to bring their bikes, boots and brollies.
Traveling to Westport offers a wonderful scenic drive; it is a four and a half drive across the Southern Alps from Christchurch. You can travel via Arthurs Pass or the Lewis Pass in either direction. Once across the hill, as Coasters call the mountains, State Highway 6 (the stunning coast road) connects Greymouth, 100 kilometres to the south, and with Nelson 222 kilometres in the Northeast, via the Buller Gorge with Westport.
There is also an airport in Westport with direct flights to and from Wellington.