Arthur’s Pass

The township of Arthur’s Pass is located a two hour drive from Christchurch. Situated on the west coast of the South Island, the roads leading to the township from Canterbury are nothing short of an engineering marvel and provide great views of the landscape. Arthur’s Pass National Park, one of the townships major tourist attractions, can be considered as two halves divided by a historic railway and highway. Along the eastern half of the divide lies sprawling expanses of beech forests and riverbeds while the western half comprises rivers flowing through deep canyons and gorges, flanked by imposing forested mountains. One of the best ways to take in the pure and natural scenery is through the renowned TranzAlpine Service railroad that carves through the region. One of the most popular activities among travellers in the region is mountaineering and hiking into the national park. Skiers and snowboarders can head to the Temple Basin Ski Area and ride some of the freshest snow in the country. The area is also known for being the native habitat of the famous flightless kea bird, one of the only species of alpine parrots.