THE TRAVELLERS GUIDE TO ARTHUR'S PASS
02 FEBRUARY 2024
Lath, Arabella and Sienna at Castle Hill in Arthurs Pass
A Postcard Come To Life
Arthur's Pass is a mountain pass in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand and it sits between two of the most beautiful regions in New Zealand - the West Coast and Canterbury. It's the gateway to these two regions, connecting Hokitika on the west, to Christchurch on the east and is located in Arthur's Pass National Park. Aside from driving through this beautiful mountain pass, you can take the Tranz Alpine train which would be a stunning ride on a clear day! We love driving through though, as it means we can stop anywhere we like for photos.
We love driving through Arthur's Pass as it has the best of the West Coast and the best of Canterbury, all in one place and it's incredibly beautiful and super popular with travelers. Why I say that it has the best of both worlds, is because it has the snowy Southern Alps (which are always snowcapped in summer) and mountains covered in forests, as well as waterfalls and clear blue rivers - it's like a postcard come to life and this makes it one epic place to explore! There are caves for spelunking, boulders for bouldering, 3 ski fields with lots of backcountry skiing (Porter Heights, Craigieburn Valley and Temple Basin) and plenty of hikes and waterfalls.
There are a couple of small towns in Arthur's Pass, with Arthur's Pass village being the biggest one (but it's still tiny!) and it's a good place to stop off at one of the cafes for a cold drink in summer or a hot drink in winter. There are a few cafes here, accommodation and public toilets.
A few fun facts about Arthur's Pass:
- The pass is named after Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson, a 19th-century explorer who played a key role in developing the pass and associated road and rail connections.
- It was established in 1929 and covers an area of about 1,147 square kms.
- You can spot kea (the only alpine parrot in the world) and takahe here.
- It's situated near the Great Alpine Fault which is a major geological fault line that marks the boundary between the Pacific and Indo-Australian tectonic plates. This fault is responsible for the uplift of the Southern Alps a loooong time ago.
- Arthur's Pass has been featured in a few films, including scenes from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
- State Highway 73, the main road through Arthur's Pass, was constructed in 1929, but the old, basic dirt track was constructed in 1866 and it was used to transport supplies and equipment.
We love driving through Arthur's Pass as it has the best of the West Coast and the best of Canterbury, all in one place and it's incredibly beautiful and super popular with travelers. Why I say that it has the best of both worlds, is because it has the snowy Southern Alps (which are always snowcapped in summer) and mountains covered in forests, as well as waterfalls and clear blue rivers - it's like a postcard come to life and this makes it one epic place to explore! There are caves for spelunking, boulders for bouldering, 3 ski fields with lots of backcountry skiing (Porter Heights, Craigieburn Valley and Temple Basin) and plenty of hikes and waterfalls.
There are a couple of small towns in Arthur's Pass, with Arthur's Pass village being the biggest one (but it's still tiny!) and it's a good place to stop off at one of the cafes for a cold drink in summer or a hot drink in winter. There are a few cafes here, accommodation and public toilets.
A few fun facts about Arthur's Pass:
- The pass is named after Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson, a 19th-century explorer who played a key role in developing the pass and associated road and rail connections.
- It was established in 1929 and covers an area of about 1,147 square kms.
- You can spot kea (the only alpine parrot in the world) and takahe here.
- It's situated near the Great Alpine Fault which is a major geological fault line that marks the boundary between the Pacific and Indo-Australian tectonic plates. This fault is responsible for the uplift of the Southern Alps a loooong time ago.
- Arthur's Pass has been featured in a few films, including scenes from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
- State Highway 73, the main road through Arthur's Pass, was constructed in 1929, but the old, basic dirt track was constructed in 1866 and it was used to transport supplies and equipment.
Castle Hill in Arthur's Pass
Lake Pearson
Arthur's Pass Village
Devils Punchbowl Track
Last time we were staying in Hokitika, we did a day trip to Arthur's Pass, as it was only a 1-hour drive from the West Coast to Arthur's Pass Village where we wanted to do the Devil's Punchbowl Track. It's one of the most popular tracks in the village, walking through the forest, over bridges (and clear blue water), to reach an impressive 131m high waterfall. It's a fairly easy 2km return track with a mixture of flat track and stairs taking you to the waterfall and back. Click here to read our full blog on the Devils Punchbowl Track.
There are heaps more tracks to do in Arthur's Pass and we want to tick them all off our bucket list! Click here to see all of the tracks on the DOC website.
There are heaps more tracks to do in Arthur's Pass and we want to tick them all off our bucket list! Click here to see all of the tracks on the DOC website.
Otira Viaduct Lookout
Arthur's Pass is full of lookouts and parking spots to pull over and take pictures of the breathtaking views and one of the most popular spots is the Otira Valley Lookout. There is a small parking lot where you can park up and look at the view which is right at the carpark - no walk needed here! The lookout looks down at the Otira Valley, which includes the Otira River and the incredible infrastructure that takes you through the valley.
In peak season (summer), you may have to wait a little while here for a park but generally it's not for too long (maybe a few minutes), as people are only taking photos of the view. However, last time we stopped there was a kea (alpine parrot) in the parking lot, so everyone was taking photos of it and feeding it (which you shouldn't do!) and we were waiting for a park, so I ended up hopping out of the car and walking up to the viewpoint to get a snap or I felt like we would have been there for a while in this case!
Click here for the location on Google Maps.
In peak season (summer), you may have to wait a little while here for a park but generally it's not for too long (maybe a few minutes), as people are only taking photos of the view. However, last time we stopped there was a kea (alpine parrot) in the parking lot, so everyone was taking photos of it and feeding it (which you shouldn't do!) and we were waiting for a park, so I ended up hopping out of the car and walking up to the viewpoint to get a snap or I felt like we would have been there for a while in this case!
Click here for the location on Google Maps.
The view looking the opposite direction of the Otira Valley, from the carpark
Castle Hill
Castle Hill is such a fun place to explore and photograph because of the mahoooosive limestone boulders scattered around the hills. There is a loop track which takes 20-minutes from the carpark and off this track are sidetracks that take you this way and that way around the boulders. The side tracks a good path to take away from the main track (which can get quite busy) and you can explore to your heart's content. When we visited in early spring, there were patches of snow on the ground which Arabella and Sienna ran straight to and played with, plus it started snowing when we were heading back to the car which was amazing!
This is such an awesome spot to stop off at and take a look around when you're in Arthur's Pass! Click here to read our full blog on Castle Hill.
This is such an awesome spot to stop off at and take a look around when you're in Arthur's Pass! Click here to read our full blog on Castle Hill.
The Cold White Stuff!
As I mentioned earlier, it can snow in Arthur's Pass, and while this is usually in winter (June - August), New Zealand's weather has a habit of being very unpredictable and this can happy at any time (the West Coast recently had snow on the tops of the mountain and it's the middle of summer!).
We have passed through a couple of times when there has been snow in the pass and there is nothing cooler than pulling over to play in the snow with some VERY excited kids!! It's really important to carry snow chains in winter, as the pass can get super snowy and icy and you will need them, plus there can be checkpoints and if you don't have them you may be turned away and this can be an expensive trip with petrol, time and finding snow chains so you can get through!
We drove through once when there was snow higher up in the pass where it was snowing a lot (and it was amazing!!) and the hills were almost covered in snow. We really wanted to get out and stand in the snow, but we were driving from Hokitika on the West Coast to Blenheim in Marlborough, with a stop in Christchurch for dinner, and this was a 7-hour trip so we really didn't have time... boohoo! This is the thing about travelling around New Zealand... you want to stop around EVERY corner and there is never enough time!
We have passed through a couple of times when there has been snow in the pass and there is nothing cooler than pulling over to play in the snow with some VERY excited kids!! It's really important to carry snow chains in winter, as the pass can get super snowy and icy and you will need them, plus there can be checkpoints and if you don't have them you may be turned away and this can be an expensive trip with petrol, time and finding snow chains so you can get through!
We drove through once when there was snow higher up in the pass where it was snowing a lot (and it was amazing!!) and the hills were almost covered in snow. We really wanted to get out and stand in the snow, but we were driving from Hokitika on the West Coast to Blenheim in Marlborough, with a stop in Christchurch for dinner, and this was a 7-hour trip so we really didn't have time... boohoo! This is the thing about travelling around New Zealand... you want to stop around EVERY corner and there is never enough time!
Waimakariri River Lookout
One of my favourite views along the highway in Arthur's Pass is the Waimakariri River Lookout. It's so beautiful with the snowy Southern Alps as the backdrop and the Waimakariri River with its clear blue water braided through the valley. There is no designated carpark here but there is a bay on the side of the highway with enough room for 2 cars. It's not signposted, so click here for the location on Google Maps.
Homer's Donut
Buckle up for a sprinkle of Simpsons fun on your way to or from Arthur's Pass! There is a colossal, eye-popping GIANT DONUT.... oh the sweet marvels of Springfield! The donut isn't in Arthur's Pass, but you will pass (no pun intended) by it on your way to or from Arthur's Pass so it would be rude not to mention it.
This donut was donated to the town of Springfield by 20th Century Fox to celebrate/promote The Simpsons Movie in 2007 but six weeks later some eejit turned it into a toasty treat (doh!). The town of Springfield eventually created a new one, which is the one you see today.
There are a couple of steps to get up to the middle of the donut and at the time Bella was 9 and Sienna was 5 and they could juuuust see through the middle of it, so they needed a boost from yours truly (mum). I love how colourful it is, it makes a very cool photo and I think on a sunny day it would look even better!
The donut is in a small park and there is street parking right beside the park, which was perfect for us to run to the donut, get a photo and run back to the car so we could continue our travels up to Blenheim. Click here for the location on Google Maps.
This donut was donated to the town of Springfield by 20th Century Fox to celebrate/promote The Simpsons Movie in 2007 but six weeks later some eejit turned it into a toasty treat (doh!). The town of Springfield eventually created a new one, which is the one you see today.
There are a couple of steps to get up to the middle of the donut and at the time Bella was 9 and Sienna was 5 and they could juuuust see through the middle of it, so they needed a boost from yours truly (mum). I love how colourful it is, it makes a very cool photo and I think on a sunny day it would look even better!
The donut is in a small park and there is street parking right beside the park, which was perfect for us to run to the donut, get a photo and run back to the car so we could continue our travels up to Blenheim. Click here for the location on Google Maps.
Know Before You Go
- This website for Arthur's Pass is a basic site that shows accommodation in the area, walks and hikes and other important info
- Anytime you plan to drive through Arthur's Pass, use the Journey Planner on the NZTA website to make sure the road is open first - click here for the Journey Planner. Heavy snow, significant rainfall, slips or accidents can close it and it's always worth checking in case you need to find an alternative route
- There is accommodation scattered through Arthur's Pass
- There is a petrol station in the pass but it's usually cheaper to fill up in Hokitika or Christchurch, depending on the direction you're coming from
- Arthur's Pass has some incredible walks and hikes to do
- You may spot kea here - the world's only alpine parrot. Don't feed them though!
- There are loads of beautiful lookouts and viewpoints to stop at and take photos from
- There are so much free activities to do here, like the walks and hikes, stopping at the viewpoints, playing in the snow in winter and watching the cheeky kea
How To Get To Arthurs Pass In New Zealand
Arthur's Pass is located between the West Coast Region and the Canterbury Region, in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand. Click here for the location on Google Maps.
Conclusion
Arthur's Pass, nestled in New Zealand's Southern Alps, connects the scenic West Coast and Canterbury regions and is like a postcard come to life. Whether you're exploring the Devil's Punchbowl Track or playing hide and seek at Castle Hill, the pass offers diverse outdoor adventures. Snow adds some super fun play stops in winter (just remember those snow chains!). There are so many viewpoints to stop and photograph/soak up the moment from and you may even get to see a cheeky kea or two on your travels. This is one of the most beautiful drives you will do in New Zealand and we recommend spending at least a whole day exploring the pass.
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