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Pro
Remote.... and adventure is right there.
Con
During the colder months, you'll probably have to take the train
In a nutshell
The further from the road - the better it is....
4 Reviews You won't miss Castle Hill. About an hour out from Christchurch, along a fairly straight stretch of road, the weird rock formations of Castle Hill attract a more or less permanent huddle of photographers. The area around here was used during the filming of the Lord of the Rings, and more recently...
7 Reviews It rained on our Arthur's Pass hike maybe half the time, but we still got some rays coming through, and hey, when you are there from USA only for the day, you take what you can get and be happy! My son and I had pretty much won a 2 week trip to Australia/NZ and this was part of our cruise...
6 Reviews I found this sign (I collect photos of funny or interesting signs from around the world) in the Parking lot of Arthurs' Pass, where our cruise bus was parked for our excursion into the mountains. It reads---"Frosty Boy, Often Licked-Never Beaten"
5 Reviews The Via Duct was very difficult to construct. It took many years for this project to be completed by the labourers. It was a 440 m structure built to replace a winding portion of road that ran under a major rockfall hazard. We read about its history and some pics and articles of the construction at...
The Department of Conservation
mountainpoet Says: A must see while in the past for either 20mins or 2 days is the Department of Conservation office (or as us Kiwis say "DOC" as in the dwarf).There is heaps of history about the area and also some very up-to-date information on local weather and track conditions.
Wobbly Kea Restaurant: Don't Let the Kea Eat your Lunch!
ATXtraveler Says: If you want to get a hot lunch on your trip out to Arthur's Pass, then you will likely want to stop in at the Wobbly Kea in the middle of the village. There are only two or three choices in town, but this one seemed spacious enough to hold us for a few minutes as we sat down...
allikat Says: Slap bang in the middle of Arthurs Pass village, the Wobbly Kea cafe serves cosy meals and great coffee in a comfortable atmosphere. The walls are hung with local artwork and it is one of those places you feel good about being inside when the weather outside is cold, wet and...
mountainpoet Says: I have used this company an couple of times and think they are great. The Bus goes from Christchurch to Greymouth/Hokitika -- passing through Arthurs Pass. They pass give a great commentary along the Journeys and are really friendly.
ATXtraveler Says: Most likely if you are on your way to Arthur's Pass, you are combining this trip with a continued journey to the West Coast of the South Island. In this case, you really only have two transportation options, riding the rail, or taking a car. We chose to rent the car, as our...
ATXtraveler Says: Since we had a bit of a drive left ahead of us this trip, we decided to stop in at the Arthur's Pass Store on our way out of town for a few sundry items and a snack or two for the road. This was your typical small town store, carrying just a bit of everything you ever...
pepples46 Says: yes, the Bird...the Alpine Parrot, called KEA...( Nestor notabilis ) he is at home at Arthur's Pass National Park, and they are the Kings or Queens for that matter. they are smart and they know it too. they are like no other bird in the world. years ago, the BBC made a...
ATXtraveler Says: You know that you may be headed into some trecherous terrain when at the visitor's center, you have the option of getting a locator beacon before trekking off into the mountains. Arthur's Pass is a busy "jump off point" for many hikers heading out into the picturesque...
pepples46 Says: .....and that's what they up too, I discribed it in all of my NZ pages, I think.Kea's love Rubber, all kinds, all sorts of Rubber. they will rip your car apart in no time, all Rubber bits that is.when a car pulls into town, with obvious Rubber damage, we mostly know where it...
Bring along your camera tripod
Aidy_p Says: Though the aluminium tripod that I had was pretty light, the desire of not bringing this cumbersome equipment hovered in my mind. Remember that there are more sheeps than people in New Zealand. Hope you get my drift! :)
as I said..the ....moody Arthur's Pass
pepples46 Says: if you take a drive from Christchurch to the West Coast and use the Pass as Passage way, no worries, chuck everthing in the car and of you go. but if you decide to stay at the Village for hiking and mountaineering.....take note!! Hiking boots, waterproof coat and trousers,...
ATXtraveler Says: If you are looking to get away from it all while in Arthur's Pass, I may recommend that you try going into the big city of Christchurch for the day. When the fresh mountain air becomes too much, there are always the smells of fresh coffee or Monteith's waiting for you in...
pepples46 Says: many bushwalks to be had at Arthur's Pass, but be careful, dress accordingly and tell someone where you going and when you might be back......more under warnings.right by the Church, shortly before you arrive in the Village, at the lefthand, when coming from Christchurch,...
DSwede Says: Arthur's pass has a healthy population of keas (the largest parrot) which are not shy or timid in the slightest. Without a doubt, they will find you, your car and come to see what you may have to eat.But the more elusive bird, the Great Spotted Kiwi or 'roroa', is the one...
ATXtraveler Says: One of the most beautiful portions of our trip to Arthur's Pass National Park were the Orange Rocks that were all over the place. Although I am not sure what made the rocks turn this color, it really does make for a stunning color. You will see these rocks at a lot of...
ATXtraveler Says: Thanks to my friends at VirtualTourist, I was able to log this tip and picture under General tips rather than Warning or Dangers!As mentioned by fellow VTer, AlliKat, the cheeky Kea can reek havoc on your vehicle if left to his own devices. Therefore, our travelling party...
Plan a Arthur's Pass National Park vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Arthur's Pass National Park locals
Ok, the rain has set in, your tent is leaky, its time for a shower. Then head to the backpackers. These guys have a heap of options from Dorm rooms, Private...
1 member lives in Arthur's Pass National Park
Q: Can bikes by hired in Arthurs pass village?
A: Hi Unsure if this will help - may not be in Arthur's Pass village. Try http://www.thesanctuary.co.nz/. Good luck!
Read 3 Replies
1
Arthur's Pass - Journey to the West
Arthur's Pass was named after Arthur Dobson who made the first survey of the pass in 1864. To get to the West Coast from Christchurch, we took State Highway 73 which passes over Arthur's Pass. The...
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I believe one of the rites of passage when it comes to travel is to at some point drive through the South Island of New Zealand. If it is not officially written in a book somewhere, I will make sure...
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Arthurs Pass National Park. The guide books will tell you that within its 950 square kilometers are the majestic peaks of Murchieson, Rolleston and several others soaring above 2000 meters. They will...
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Going to University in Christchurch, Arthurs Pass was one of the closest escapes to the wild. Only 2hours drive from Chch - it's really easy to get to. There are too many walks to talk about so I'll...
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Arthur's pass is 924 metres long and was the route originally used by the Moaris to reach Westlands. It received its current name from Arthur Dobson, who discovered it in 1864 while searching for a......
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