Arthur’s Pass
On Friday I got to drive over Arthur’s Pass. I think it might be my first time over there since I was a child. It is a stunningly beautiful and rugged drive, and one every New Zealander should do at least once.
Driving between Greymouth and Hokitika one gets to cross this great bridge prior to the turn off (which is next to start of the Coast to Coast). I love getting to drive along train tracks – the only problem was at the end of the bridge I started to follow the tracks instead of the road 
How many places on Earth can you drive surrounded by scenery like this? I’ve driven around Australia, the US, parts of the UK and we just don’t realise how lucky we are.
Had to grab this photo as I was driving along and saw this chute diverting the water from the road.
A few hundred metres later there was a lookout where one could get a photo also. Great views as one is near the peak here.
At the lookout was this poor little fellow. It was bloody cold. After the peak I got to Arthur’s Pass hamlet where there birds everywhere. Had a quick meal in the cafe to warm up. This is right up close to the skifields.
After crossing the pass, the sun came out, and the views on the other side just as good.
It really should be a mandatory drive. I won’t wait so long to do it again.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:35 am
I’ve really been enjoying your photos from down south. Makes me want to get out and see the country. Their quality is very good.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:47 am
Switzerland has a lot in common with NZ in this aspect. Lauterbrunnen village is nestled in a glacial valley and has awe-inspiring views.
Like you DPF, I haven’t done the West Coast/Arthur’s Pass since I was child (although that was probably wasn’t as long ago as you!) and your photos make me want to go and rediscover it again (esp. as that kickass water chute wasn’t built in ’88).
September 16th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Makes me homesick….
September 16th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Just as a matter of interest, what does the water from the chute fall into (a waterhole, a river?). While admittedly it does look pretty cool, wouldn’t running the stream under the road slow erosion (and prolong the life of the road) and generally do less damage to the ecosystem than having the water free-fall about 30-40m?
[DPF: No idea, as I was driving past trying to peer down the ravine seemed a bad idea
and can't recall from the lookout.]
September 16th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I must plan to cover those roads on a motorcycle. Better to be in the scenery than merely looking out at it.
September 16th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
AAL.
You should go see how many waterfalls there are in the Arthurs pass region, and the otira gorge in particular. I think the ecosystem can deal with it. There was already a waterfall there before the road, they just added a couple of metres. It falls into a shallow pool of waterand flows into the river.
Of note is the fact that Transit NZ won the International Roading Federation Global Road Achievment Award for Environmental Mitigation for the engineering project which includes the chute. As part of the project Transit had to construct a tunnel under the road which at certain times of the year is opened to allow salmon to swim up the river, providing a seasonal food source for the bears which live upstream.
However, all that concrete was produced by a process which emits a high amount of CO2, so I’m thinking the award should be revoked.
September 16th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Did this trip one time it was awesome. WOuld love to visit the South again.
September 16th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
love the coast, REAL New Zealand
September 16th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
As part of the project Transit had to construct a tunnel under the road which at certain times of the year is opened to allow salmon to swim up the river, providing a seasonal food source for the bears which live upstream.
Which bears would those be? The teddy bears? Or maybe the gummy bears?
Have a little think about it, Helmet.
September 16th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
I do that trip once or twice a year to go fishing on the West Coast. Always love it.
September 16th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
“Of note is the fact that Transit NZ won the International Roading Federation Global Road Achievment Award for Environmental Mitigation for the engineering project which includes the chute. As part of the project Transit had to construct a tunnel under the road which at certain times of the year is opened to allow salmon to swim up the river, providing a seasonal food source for the bears which live upstream.”
I though helmet knew about the ecosystem? Surely a joke?
September 16th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
DAVID its starting to sound like easy rider, did you come across a nubile NAKED young thing riding a trail bike , David do you have a urge to buy a harley soft tail, im starting to worry, ps CHRIS TROTTER, a airhead (if you love the throat slitter, zaoui you are a kiwi , if you dont love the islamist , leave the country , hell the surname TROTTER sounds like pig ,(MUSLIMS LOVE PORK) BRING IT ON, a local contracter has the surname ramsbottom, opps strange sex here, a future fate worse than death, SEND the throat slitter to auckland university , but the 3000000 million dollar tossier( THAT NON WORD AGAIN)can only converse in his terrorist home tongue, A DAMN DEAR TAXI DRIVER OR AS IS USUALLY THE CASE A LIFE TIME BENERFICERY,
[DPF: And that's a one week ban]
September 16th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Red Neck,
If that isn’t an invitation for a ban, I don’t know what is?
● off topic
● false accusations
● racist/religious verbal abuse
Where are the moderators?
Let’s get back to the topic at hand – the ecological destruction of the native NZ bear’s feeding grounds.
September 16th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
“Which bears would those be? The teddy bears? Or maybe the gummy bears?”
Speights bears actually. AAL’s from auckland. I thought I’d try it on.
The road did win the award though.
September 16th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Here’s the link if you’re interested.
http://www.transit.govt.nz/content_files/news/Newsletter117_pdfFile.pdf
The whole project kinda makes me wish I was a civil engineer.
September 16th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
“The whole project kinda makes me wish I was a civil engineer.”
Yeah, it is a pretty cool vocation. *cough*
September 16th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
AAL’s from auckland. I thought I’d try it on.
You got me instead….
Maybe the tunnel is for the moa?
September 16th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Hey dont joke, I do that drive many times a year and believe me there are plenty bears in them woods! Usually at roadside parking areas. Easily detected by the scatterings of scrunched up loo paper under the nearest bush. The other side of the enviro wonder world we have.
So dont linger in them roadside spots! But tell you what – I never get bored with the hoki-chch drive. mind-blowing. In fact anywhere down here – just did the wanaka-chch drive today. mesmerisingly mesmerated.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
That is some outrageously cool scenery… Shame that the bears scare people away.