Burkes Pass: Churches, History and Heritage Walk

Burkes Pass is located on State Highway 8 between Fairlie and Lake Tekapo, surrounded by farmland and gently rolling hills. The town’s history and the Burkes Pass Heritage Walk are the main considerations when choosing a destination. If you’re looking for a hotel in Burkes Pass, these local attractions can help you decide whether the town suits your travel interests.

Church, Hut and Local History

St Patrick’s Union Church was built by early settlers in 1872. It is considered the oldest Union Church still standing on its original site and continuously used as a church. The church is open daily to the local community and visitors, and provides information about the earliest Union Church in South Canterbury. As opening hours may change, check them before visiting.

Musterer’s Hut is a replica built by the trust to commemorate early workers. Inside the hut, you’ll find old photographs and stories, historic hut items, and an original fireplace. Just outside is an original limestone watering trough. Horse-drawn wagons used it before climbing over the pass into the Mackenzie District.

Burkes Pass Cemetery has graves dating from 1873 onward. They include those of several mountaineers who died in accidents on Mt Cook. Burkes Pass School and the schoolhouse were built in 1878. The church, cemetery and school buildings show different aspects of local history, from religious use to early local institutions.

Burkes Pass Heritage Walk

The Burkes Pass Heritage Walk starts at Musterer’s Hut and follows an original route through Burkes Pass. A tourism description dated 19 September 2022 gives the Burkes Pass Heritage Walk’s length as 1.7 kilometres, its duration as 30 minutes, and its difficulty as easy. The same description notes mown grass and boardwalks as trail features, and describes the on-site information as follows: signs provide information about individual historic sites, supplemented by photo panels. This lets you combine the walk with insights into the town’s history.

The walk also features the children’s game “Where’s Sally”: you look for a working collie along the trail. A free game sheet is available at Musterer’s Hut. The walk also passes the Mount Cook Road Board Office. These stops provide specific points where you can explore local history, rather than just viewing it as an overview.

Three Creeks and the Rural Surroundings

Three Creeks features a general store, a 1950s service station, a blacksmith’s workshop and a trading store. Its offerings include artwork, crafts, gifts, retro collectibles and wooden furniture. There is also a retro coffee cart. Three Creeks adds another distinctive perspective on Burkes Pass alongside its historic sites and Heritage Walk.

Local attractions have different focuses: St Patrick’s Union Church and Musterer’s Hut offer insights into church and local history, the cemetery keeps memories of the deceased alive, and the Heritage Walk combines the route with information panels. Together with the rural surroundings, these features can help you assess Burkes Pass as a destination for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Twizel, Lake Tekapo, Mt Cook, Kimbell, Fairlie, Albury

Go to the main travel guide: Mackenzie District.