Arthur's Pass National Park

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Arthur's Pass National Park

Arthur's Pass National Park is located in the South Island of New Zealand and covers 1,185 km² of mostly mountainous terrain. The park is popular for tramping, skiing, hunting and mountaineering.

It was established in 1929, becoming the first national park in the South Island and the third in New Zealand. It is bisected by State Highway 73.

The road passes through Arthur's Pass village and the mountain pass with the same name over the Southern Alps at a height of 920 metres above sea level. The park is administered by the Department of Conservation and operate a depot, administration and information centre in Arthur's Pass village. The park is very distinctly split by the main divide of the South Island.

The eastern side is typically drier and consists of beech forest and wide riverbeds, while the western side contains dense rainforest. Much of the geography was formed by ancient glacial action, forming flat bottomed U-shaped valleys. In the middle is a high range, consisting of large, snow-covered peaks and scree slopes.

Getting There

Arthur's Pass National Park is also within a few hours' driving time of Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. This easy access for visitors to New Zealand, as well as the immediate access to the mountain trails from the village.

Arthur's Pass National Park is located 97 km away from Christchurch Airport.