HIKING, OUTDOORS & PHOTOGRAPHY
Renee Cadigan
West Coast, NZ
Renee is a prominent New Zealand outdoor enthusiast, content creator, and advocate for getting out into nature based in the remote Lake Kaniere region of the West Coast. Widely known as the Westcoast Wanderer, she uses her platforms to share the rugged beauty of the South Island while encouraging others to connect deeply with nature and local communities. Through her content, Renee documents a way of life grounded in resilience, resourcefulness, and adventure — from remote backcountry exploration to the everyday realities of living close to the land. Her storytelling goes beyond aesthetics, encouraging others to slow down, learn practical skills, and embrace a more self-reliant lifestyle.
Alongside this, Renee hosts Voices of the Coast, a video and podcast series that captures the stories, strength, and character of those who call the West Coast home.
As a River Run ambassador, Renee represents a powerful shift in outdoor culture — one that is inclusive, capable, and deeply connected to both place and purpose. Her journey reflects what River Run stands for: access to the wild, freedom to explore, and the ability to live life on your own terms.
Renee Cadigan is the woman behind West Coast Wanderer — a project built around the people, stories and places that make New Zealand’s West Coast what it is.
Through her West Coast Wander YouTube series, Renee gets alongside the locals who call the Coast home, sharing honest conversations with the characters, business owners, adventurers and everyday people who give the region its identity.
It’s not just about showcasing incredible places. It’s about capturing the people behind the place — their stories, their resilience, their connection to the land and why they choose to call the West Coast home.
A passionate advocate for the region, Renee uses her photography, filmmaking and storytelling to shine a light on the Coast in a way that feels genuine, personal and unmistakably West Coast.
Hit play and meet some of the people who make this wild corner of New Zealand so special.