Charleston

The Underworld is the Real Draw Here

Charleston sits between Westport and Punakaiki on one of the best stretches of coastal driving on the West Coast. Most people blow straight through, which is a shame because the thing that makes Charleston worth stopping for is genuinely different from anything else on the coast. There's a cave, glowworm, rafting, and railway combo at Underworld Adventures that's far less touristy than what you'll find at the more famous glowworm spots. The full rafting experience is the one to go for. The RANKERS promo code gets you a discount on the caving and rafting too, which takes a bit of the sting out.

If the underground isn't your thing, you can also just wander around under your own steam for free. The glowworms here aren't the best you'll see on the West Coast, but the whole package together is a solid and quirky few hours. There's also a Saturday market, beach caves, and a left hand surf break on its day if you know what to look for. It's a good honest stop without the tour bus crowd.