12 Places To Visit In Arthurs Pass

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Waterfall (3)
Hiking (2)
Cave (1)
Historical Site (1)

1. Craigieburn Forest Park

27 km from city center

Forest Reserve

Highlights: Craigieburn Valley Ski Area, Broken River Ski (Read More) Area, Mt Cheeseman Ski Area, Bealey Spur Track, Helicopter Hill Track, Hogs Back Track from Castle Hill Village

Craigieburn Forest Park is a beautiful area located in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. It is a protected area and stretches across the Waimakariri River to the Wilberforce River and encompasses native beech forests, braided rivers and wild mountain peaks. You can plan your adventure holiday and experience wildlife or go tramping, mountain biking, hunting, skiing, camping, four-wheel driving (Read More)and walking.

Waterfall

Devils Punchball Waterfall is one of New Zealand’s most impressive waterfalls and is located in the heart of Arthur’s Pass in the Canterbury region. There is a walking track that leads to this stunning 131m waterfall and you can build up your anticipation by walking this track. It is graded as a moderate 2km return track and takes an hour to complete. You will pass beautiful scenery and lush green (Read More) beech trees. The area is great for bird watching and kiwi sightings.

4 km from city center

Skiing

Tempe Basin is a ski field located in Arthur’s Pass in New Zealand’s Canterbury region. It is operated by two clubs, Canterbury University Snow Sports Club and the Temple Basin Ski club. The ski area features a ski shop, 3 rope tows, two lodges and a ski school. Visitors can enjoy four main basins and Cassidy Tow is smooth and good for beginners. Temple Tow is an intermediate slope and Downhill Ba (Read More)sin is the highest tow with a wide-open bowl. You can hike from Downhill Basin to Bills Basin which is good for intermediate skiers and has chutes at the bottom.

1 km from city center

Hiking

Avalanche Peak Track is one of New Zealand’s most rewarding and challenging hikes located in Arthur’s Pass. The track is in the Southern Alps which is a majestic mountain range and one of the most stunning places in the world. It is short trip from Christchurch and a day hike so leaving early is advisable for sufficient daylight hours. It is a 2.5km one way hike and takes 3-4 hours to complete. It (Read More) has a steep elevation so 7-8 hours are needed in total to complete the walk.

52 km from city center

Waterfall

Avalanche Creek Falls is comprised of three beautiful waterfalls; a lower, middle and upper horsetail waterfall. The waterfalls are located in Arthur’s Park in New Zealand’s South Island. This 80m waterfall is a short stroll from Arthur’s Park Village and is the most accessible waterfall in the area. The village closes early in the evening but the track to the falls is lit so you can carry a torch (Read More) and visit at night for different viewing conditions.

0 km from city center

Village

Arthur’s Pass Village is a small, quiet alpine village located in the Southern Alps in New Zealand’s South Island. It is an ideal point to stop off between Christ Church and the West Coast. It is also the starting point of many trails to Arthur’s Pass which climbs over 900m through Arthur’s Pass National Park. So, it is the perfect base to start your exploration of Arthur’s Park. It is one of the (Read More)most scenic places to visit and a beautiful pass across the Southern Alps.

7. Bealey Spur

10 km from city center

Hiking

The Bealey Spur track is a hiking track located in Arthur’s Pass National Park in the Canterbury region. It is a more gradual track compared to other tracks in Arthur’s Pass and you can experience stunning views and good weather. It is popular because it is not as steep as other tracks and doesn’t go above the bush line. This is a 13.4km return track and is considered a moderate to challenging rou (Read More)te. It takes about 4.5 hours to complete and is famous for hiking, backpacking and birding.

Waterfall

New Zealand’s Bridal Veil Falls is one of the most lush waterfalls in the country. It is a 55m drop surrounded by picturesque views and the Maori refer to it as Wairenga which means ‘leaping waters.’ It is located on the Pakoka river in Waikato area and is just a 25-minute drive from Raglan and 2 hours from Auckland. The drop of the falls has eroded the base creating a pool at the bottom. This wat (Read More)erfall cascades over basalt cliffs created by volcanic activity a million years ago. There is a clear path to the waterfall and there are also picnic tables at the beginning of the walk which you can enjoy.

6 km from city center

Bridge

Otira Viaduct Lookout is a beautiful location in Arthur’s Pass in New Zealand’s South Island. You will notice a steep gorge and tight zig-zags of the old road. The viaduct was built due to major rockfall hazards and it is a great place to take in the views of the surrounding area. You will also encounter mischievous kea birds. The river below the viaduct is a sight to behold on a rainy day and the (Read More) trickling waterfalls on the cliffs turn into torrents.

36 km from city center

Historical Site

Castle Hill is a stunning historical and natural wonder in New Zealand’s South Island. The limestone rock formations are also known as Kura Tawhiti by the Ngai Tahu tribe and are of cultural significance. It is one of the most scenic spots on the Arthur’s Pass drive and the conservation is located between Arthur’s Pass and Darfield. The sculptured forms have attracted many visitors and you can acc (Read More)ess this iconic geological site from the carpark which is well signposted.

Cave

The Cave Stream Scenic Reserve is located in Castle Basin which is a low depression bounded by the Torlesse and Craigieburn Ranges. The name ‘Castle Hill’ stems from the castle-like limestone formations throughout the basin. You can experience a 600m limestone cave which is a unique experience and a slightly wet adventure. There are two short walks that lead to the cave entrances which are in comp (Read More)lete darkness with twists and turns for about 594m.

26 km from city center

Lake

Lake Pearson (Moana Rua) is a beautiful and tranquil lake that is a great place for overnight camping and is located in the Craigieburn Forest Park in the Canterbury region. It is about a 20-minute drive from Arthur’s Pass Village just off State Highway 73. The area is a wildlife refuge and motorised boats are banned as it is a preserved habitat for southern crested gerbe. This high-country lake i (Read More)s part of the Waimakariri Basin and is a great spot for birdwatching. You can also enjoy fishing and it has a beautiful landscape for photographers.