Arthurs Pass - South Island, New Zealand

There are road and rail routes from Christchurch to Arthurs Pass leading from the lush Canterbury Plains to an earthquake shaken village 735 metres above sea level. The TranzAlpine rail route is an amazing ride, the 920 metre pass leads 4 kms to the west of Arthurs Pass Village.

The route itself is a true testament to scenic beauty. The route climbs through Sheffield and Springfield and at this point, the TranzAlpine rail line and the road routes split. The road route climbs past several streams and rivers and reaches the 923 metre Porters Pass.

It passes through a series of fantastic gorges in Korowai/Torlesse Tussocklands Park, past the Porter Heights skifield, the Craigieburn Forest Park, the Craigieburn, Mt Cheeseman and Broken River skifields and a plethora of lakes along the way. The route then follows the Waimakariri River until it reaches Bealey and heads on to Arthurs Pass Village, nestled between the towering Mt Rollestion and Mt Temple.

After this, the rail route goes through the 8.5 km Otira Tunnel that goes below the Pass itself and ends at the podocarp forests around Lake Brunner and on to Grey Valley before it reaches its final destination of Greymouth. The road route descends though the recently built Otira Viaduct and heads towards the West Coast.

The Korowai/Torlesse Tussocklands Park is a 21,000 hectare tussock grasslands conservation park created to preserve the fast disappearing treeless grasslands covering the area. This region is filled with endangered shrubs, unique flora and fauna.

Korowai in Maori means "cloak" which is a symbol of togetherness and protecting. The park is named after Charles Torlesse who was the first European to scale these mountains. Located on the highway leading to Porters Pass is another spectacular sight in Torlesse Gap, a narrow fissure between the Red and Castle Hill Peaks.

About 30 kms west of Springfield, the SH7 goes past the Kura Tawhiti Scenic Reserve or Castle Hill Reserve marked by interesting formations of lime stone rocks in various shapes and sizes. This has given rise to the sport of bouldering, a form of climbing without using a rope.

The place is of spiritual significance to Maori culture. In the same area, Cave Stream Scenic Reserve overlooks the Craigieburn and Torlesse Ranges. There is a 362 metre limestone cave that you can explore on your own. It is a wet and thrilling underground adventure.

Arthurs Pass Activities

The Craigieburn Forest Park on the eastern ranges of the Southern Alps is 42 kms before Arthurs Pass Village. It has numerous walking tracks and mountaineering opportunities. There is a huge variety of birdlife in this region.

The Craigieburn Valley skifield within the precincts of the park is a popular haunt in winter. There is also a Craigieburn Picnic Area and a walkers shelter with maps of local tramps. The Hut Creek Walk trail is worth the effort if you are in this region.

The Arthurs Pass Village is located in a steep forest covered U-shaped valley at a height of 735 metres. The weather fluctuates all the time. It is an excellent base for visiting Arthurs Pass National Park and for adventure activities such as climbing and walking. In winter, it is a good base to launch into skiing and snowboarding activities.

The Arthurs Pass National Park is made up of 720 kiometres of alpine landscape surrounding the Pass itself. The best way to explore this unique alpine landscape are the walks which afford spectacular views of the grandeur of the region.

There are suggested short walks, however they are not to be treated casually. Regardless of how short they are, these walks involve a lot of precautions due to the very fickle and constantly fluctuating weather.

The most popular short walks are the Devil's Punchbowl and Bridal Veil Nature Walk. The popular longer 6 to 7 hour walks are the climb to Avalanche Peak and Scotts Track. A great 2 day walk is the Mingha-Deception Trail. The Harman Pass to Kelly Saddle Walk is a demanding tramp. The Casey Saddle to Binser Saddle and the Cass Lagoon Saddle Track are also popular tramps.

There are five top skifields in the region surrounding Arthurs Pass offering skiing and snowboarding adventures, accommodation and equipment hire. The lack of variation in runs is made up for by the spectacular views. The snow is good quality and the slopes are less crowded. The skifields are located at Porter Heights, Mt Cheeseman, Broken River, Craigieburn Valley and Temple Basin.

The Village is a stop for all coast to coast buses and the TranzAlpine train. There is a DOC Visitor Centre in the village providing excellent local information on weather, wildlife, accommodation, activities, and flora and fauna.

LooknbookNZ can organise your Arthurs Pass accommodation and Arthurs Pass activities allowing you to have a wonderful time in the environs of its wonderful alpine scenery.