WHATAROA At the time of visiting Whatoroa it was unfortunately pouring with rain, which prevented the opportunity to walk the town. But Whatoroa did have the qualifiable items that determined inclusion and so here is the synopsis mainly from Wikipedia. “Whataroa is a small township in southern Westland on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island It is located on the western bank of the Whataroa River, with the village of Te Tahoon the other side. State Highway 6 passes through Whataroa on its route from Ross to the Franz Josef Glacier. Hari Hari is 31 km to the north-east, and Franz Josef is 32 km to the south-west. The population of Whataroa and its surrounding area was 405 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 81 from 2001. Whataroa is located in an agricultural area where dairying is the primary activity. The town contains amenities such as a school, two churches, and a Maori craft gallery. It is also a staging base for trips to a white heron sanctuary that is the only breeding location of white heron in New Zealand” Whataroa has a Hotel, Church and War Memorial. There is no doubt that the rain and mist prevented the best of the landscape and beauty to be on display.