Discover Arthur's Pass and find hotels

Arthur's Pass offers several practical starting points for planning a trip: walking trails begin in the village, while others lead into the surrounding area; waterfalls, mountain views and historical connections offer different points of interest. If you’re looking for a hotel in Arthur's Pass, you can first consider which of these types of outings matter most for your stay. The trails vary in destination and landscape, and some routes have expressly stated conditions.

Walking trails and waterfalls

The Arthur's Pass Walking Track provides a walk from Arthur's Pass village to the Dobson Memorial at Arthur's Pass summit. From the Punchbowl car park, the track reaches a viewpoint overlooking Bridal Veil Falls in 20 minutes. The trail passes through subalpine mountain beech forest and Dracophyllum. It also winds through alpine scrub and wetlands to Jacks Hut, a restored shelter for road workers.

The Bealey Valley Track starts at the car park opposite Jacks Hut in Arthur's Pass Village, on SH73. It crosses Bealey Chasm, a narrow ravine where the river cascades over large boulders, and leads to a snowgrass clearing with views of Mt Rolleston. This track therefore features both the river-carved landscape of the gorge and views of the mountain.

The Devils Punchbowl Walking Track climbs steeply through native mountain beech forest, also known as Tāwhairauriki, to a viewpoint near the base of Devils Punchbowl Falls. The falls flow year-round and are most impressive in spring, when snow melts in the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana. This means you can take seasonal differences into account when planning a visit, while the water flows all year.

Mountain trails and seasonal highlights

The two routes of the Avalanche Peak Route start on SH73 in Arthur's Pass Village and are about 700 metres apart. The approximate distance between the starting points helps distinguish the two routes. Check conditions on the mountain trails and the avalanche risk before setting out.

The Mount Bealey Track starts at the end of Mount Bealey Road in Arthur's Pass Village and climbs steeply to the bushline. It is suitable only for experienced trampers. From the end of the track at the bushline, there are good views of Arthur's Pass and the surrounding mountains. The challenge and the views go hand in hand here: the climb is steep, and the stated suitability is expressly limited to experienced trampers.

In the area around Arthur's Pass, the Temple Basin Track starts at the Temple Basin car park. It climbs steeply to an open tussock basin with ski club buildings and the Lockwood day shelter. Alpine flowers typically bloom in the alpine meadows along the track from November to February. If seeing the flowers is important to you, this period provides a specific guide for planning your trip.

Historic sites and getting your bearings

The Millennium Walk starts opposite the Arthur's Pass Visitor Centre and crosses a small stone bridge with a view of Avalanche Creek Waterfall. It ends at the road by Arthur's Pass Chapel; the chapel's altar window frames Avalanche Creek Waterfall. The Arthur's Pass Historic Walk also includes a short detour to a platform overlooking a waterfall on Avalanche Creek. Together, the walks offer different views of the waterfall and the chapel.

Built in 1926, Aniwaniwa is a significant example of a residential building in Arthur's Pass designed as a holiday chalet. The property is private and not open to the public. For historical points of interest that can be combined with a walk, the Millennium Walk passes Arthur's Pass Chapel; its altar window frames the waterfall in the view.

Several bus services between Christchurch and the West Coast stop daily in Arthur's Pass village; the TranzAlpine scenic train also stops in Arthur's Pass. Check the latest timetables before travelling. The Arthur's Pass National Park Visitor Centre provides up-to-date information on track, river and mountain conditions, as well as the weather forecast and avalanche conditions. This information is particularly relevant if your plans include a mountain trail.

Discover more destinations: Kaiapoi, Maungati, Ashburton Lakes, Loburn, Glenavy, Ferniehurst, Peel Forest, Mount Peel

For the broader travel overview: Canterbury.