Haast Pass - Haast to Makarora

From Westland to Otago

A good road winds through lush forest in a surprisingly gentle fashion, given the mountainous terrain, over the lowest pass crossing the Southern Alps. The views are spectacular as you follow the Haast River up the pass. As you descend through beech forest, you glimpse the Makarora River. Suddenly the valley opens up to wide terrace flats and you have the feeling of being in a different country. Before you are tussock-covered hills, rugged glacier-carved mountains and lakes Wanaka and Hawea. You have left Westland and entered Otago. Allow plenty of time to drive over the Haast Pass: delightful short walks are signposted all along the route. DOC has also provided, for a small fee, attractive camping sites (water and toilets) at Pleasant Flat, Cameron Flat and, beyond Makarora, at Boundary Creek and Kidds Bush.


See NZPlaces for several exhilarating bushwalks to break up the journey, and please SUBMIT your photos, we would love to see them.