Arthur's Pass
Explore the peaks of the Southern Alps from one of New Zealand's highest towns...
Arthur's Pass Location
Elevated 740 metres above sea level and surrounded by beech forest, Arthur's Pass township is 5 kilometres from the mountain pass of the same name.
Arthur's Pass is a great opportunity to get off the TranzAlpine train journey and stretch your legs.
A mecca for trampers, snowboarders, mountain climbers and nature lovers, there are many short and long walks in the area including those that start near the comfortable accommodation found in Arthur’s Pass village. If walking, hiking or skiing are your things, perhaps you should spend longer exploring more of this beautiful mountainous national park with peaks rising more than 2,000 metres.
Arthur’s Pass National Park itself is a landscape of two halves. On the eastern side, you'll see wide, shingle-filled riverbeds and vast swathes of beech forest. Descend the western side, and you venture through dense rainforest alongside and over deeply gorged rivers. You'll probably spot New Zealand’s inquisitive and comical alpine parrot, the kea, along the way. And during winter you can join the skiers and snowboarders enjoying spectacular runs in the Temple Basin Ski Area.
What's on in Greymouth and the West Coast
Accommodation - places to stay
Activities - Things to do at Arthur's Pass
Planning - safety is essential