The Greymouth Mawheranui area covers the central West Coast between the Taramakau River north to the Buller Gorge and inland to the Maruia Valley. There is over 500,000 ha of public conservation land within this area, including Victoria Forest Park and Lewis Pass National Reserve; many small reserves and large areas of stewardship land. 

The area is extensively forested with several large river valleys and alpine headwaters. Many places have maintained walking track access and backcountry huts but some of the more remote places only have routes and no footbridges or huts. Many rivers and lakes provide good trout fishing.

Hunting for red deer, fallow deer, chamois, goats, feral pigs and game birds is popular throughout much of the area.

The climate is wet, at times with over 3000mm of rain each year with westerly winds predominating. In winter several falls of snow can be expected that will blanket the tops and upper forested slopes. Spring to autumn is mild with regular spells of fine weather.