Arthur’s Pass, New Zealand: Personal Tips & Highlights

What you need to know about Arthur’s Pass

Arthur’s Pass is one of the most scenic mountain passes on the South Island of New Zealand. It connects Kumara Junction on the West Coast with Christchurch on the East Coast.

The pass winds through snow-capped mountains, wide valleys, and past some seriously beautiful lakes. The landscape even served as a filming location for The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings.

There are not only plenty of viewpoints for photography — you can also go hiking and skiing at Arthur’s Pass. That’s why it’s one of the best highlights in New Zealand for us.

Is Arthur’s Pass worth it?

Absolutely! There is one catch, though: if you drive Arthur’s Pass, it’s hard to fit Abel Tasman National Park into your New Zealand road trip route. And most travelers really want to see that park.

So you have two options:

1. Skip Abel Tasman National Park

In this case, after arriving in Picton on the South Island, you can drive via Kaikoura to Christchurch. From there, take Arthur’s Pass and travel along the West Coast of New Zealand all the way to Queenstown.

2. Take a day trip from Christchurch

If you absolutely don’t want to miss Abel Tasman National Park, you can always do a day trip from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass instead.

If you’re flying home from Christchurch, this works perfectly in the last few days of your trip.

We’ll walk you through exactly how the day trip works further down in the article.

Where is Arthur’s Pass?

Arthur’s Pass runs horizontally across the northern part of New Zealand’s South Island, connecting the West and East Coasts.

To give you a better overview, we’ve put together a map for you. On it you’ll also find our highlights along Arthur’s Pass and our accommodation recommendations. We’ll cover both in more detail below.

Our highlights at Arthur’s Pass

Castle Hill

Castle Hill is by far the top attraction at Arthur’s Pass. It features enormous, oddly shaped sandstone rocks — and the place became truly famous because scenes from The Chronicles of Narnia were filmed right here.

From the free parking lot, a path takes you through Castle Hill. Plan for about 40 to 60 minutes. You don’t need to be particularly fit — it’s more of a stroll than a hike.

Castle Hill is also a popular spot for climbers. You can often watch people bouldering on the rock faces.

Cave Stream

Cave Stream is a 600-meter-long cave with a river flowing through it. If you’re not claustrophobic, this is a seriously incredible experience.

Bring a flashlight — it’s very dark inside. You’ll need to climb over larger rocks at times, so sturdy footwear is essential.

Important: Do not enter the cave after flooding or heavy rain, as it could fill with water. Always check the current warning signs at the entrance, and never go in completely alone.

Lake Pearson

Lake Pearson is a beautiful lake and a great spot for a break. The vista of the mirror-smooth water with the mountains in the background is absolutely fantastic!

At the northern end there’s a freedom campsite (you can find more information about freedom camping in our New Zealand travel tips).

There’s usually space here, and you can park for a few minutes even if you’re not camping. There’s also a public restroom at the campsite.

Waimakariri River Lookout

The Waimakariri Lookout was our personal favorite vantage point at Arthur’s Pass. You look out over a wide green valley with the incredibly blue Waimakariri River cutting right through the middle.

“Lookout” might be overstating it slightly — it’s really just a small gravel pull-off on the side of Highway 73. Use Google Maps so you don’t drive right past it.

We loved it so much that we took loads of photos and stopped for a snack break.

Arthur's Pass Village

Arthur’s Pass Village is the only real settlement along the pass road. It’s a small village, but there are some lovely hotels and lodges and a café.

If you want to spend the night at Arthur’s Pass, the village makes a great base. From here you can reach many of the most popular hiking trails in the area.

There’s also a visitor center where you can learn more about the history of the pass road and the national park.

Right next to it is a kea bird station. Keas are iconic New Zealand birds — great to watch, but keep a close eye on your belongings. Keas will try to steal anything that isn’t nailed down.

Devils Punchbowl Waterfall

Devils Punchbowl is one of the most impressive waterfalls in all of New Zealand. It plunges a full 131 meters — for comparison, that’s more than twice the height of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.

A short trail leads to a wooden platform directly below the waterfall, where you can get some really amazing shots. The trail is super easy and takes about 20 minutes each way.

The turnoff to the Devils Punchbowl parking lot is at the northern end of Arthur’s Pass Village and is well signposted.

Important: When the waterfall is running high, the viewing platform can get a little wet. Bring a rain jacket and take extra care of your camera.

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls is essentially the little sibling of Devils Punchbowl. The waterfall is only a few meters smaller, but overall it’s just not as dramatic.

That said, you can easily combine the two. About 10 minutes into the walk toward Devils Punchbowl, the Arthur’s Pass Walking Track branches off — and after another 10 minutes you’ll reach Bridal Veil Falls.

This trail technically continues all the way to the summit of Arthur’s Pass, but you’ll need to budget several more hours for that.

Otira Viaduct Lookout

The Otira Viaduct Lookout is one of the most beautiful overlooks at Arthur’s Pass. It’s a quick stop, but you really should pull over here for some photos.

Coming from Christchurch, there’s a small turnoff on the right side of the road. After a few hundred meters you’ll reach a parking lot.

From here you get a fantastic panorama of the mountains, the Otira River, and the 440-meter-long bridge.

Our tips for skiing at Arthur’s Pass

Arthur’s Pass National Park is home to the Temple Basin ski area, located north of Devils Punchbowl Waterfall, with 10 kilometers of runs.

Temple Basin has its pros and cons. There is a lift for your equipment, but no chairlift — so you’ll have to hike up the mountain on foot, which takes about 45 minutes.

On the upside, it’s pleasantly quiet and far less crowded than most ski resorts. And the views are breathtaking.

The whole area is very natural and untouched, with no groomed runs. To ski at Arthur’s Pass, you should be a very experienced skier.
Our tip: Outside of ski season, once the snow has melted, this is also a fantastic area for hiking.

Arthur’s Pass as a day trip on the TranzAlpine train

If Arthur’s Pass doesn’t fit into your road trip route, a day trip from Christchurch is a great alternative.

We recommend joining a guided tour and have picked out our top recommendation for you. You don’t have to worry about transportation, and you’ll have plenty of time to explore the sights at your own pace.

Here’s how your Arthur’s Pass day trip works:

• Train ride on the TranzAlpine from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass Village: one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world! Your ticket is included in the tour price.
• Lunch in Arthur’s Pass Village
• You board a minibus that takes you back to Christchurch.
• Stops at places like Otira Viaduct Lookout, Lake Pearson, and Castle Hill — with time for short walks

Book your Arthur’s Pass day trip here (+ TranzAlpine train ticket)

Alternatively, you can do a solo day trip and take the TranzAlpine back to Christchurch as well.

Keep in mind, though, that on the solo option you won’t be able to visit places like Castle Hill. There are no stops between Arthur’s Pass Village and Christchurch.

Where to stay at Arthur’s Pass

The hotel selection at Arthur’s Pass is pretty limited. That said, there are some lovely self-catering cabins and vacation homes — many set in remote, natural surroundings.

We’ve marked our accommodation picks on the map earlier in the article so you can quickly get a feel for the locations.

Here are our recommendations for where to stay at Arthur’s Pass:
Sunrise Mountain View Cabin Retreat — a very modern and stylish cabin for up to four people

Porters Lodge — mountain hotel with great views, a restaurant, and perfect access for skiing and mountain biking

The Bealey Hotel — simple hotel with a restaurant and breakfast, just 10 minutes from Arthur’s Pass Village, and great value for money

Arthur’s Pass Ecolodge — small B&B with panoramic views and a really warm, welcoming host

Practical tips for visiting Arthur’s Pass

Here are answers to the most common questions about things to do in Arthur’s Pass, plus a few pointers to help you plan.

Also read our travel tips for New Zealand
How many days should you plan for Arthur’s Pass?

You can drive the pass in a single day — but that leaves almost no time for short hikes or longer stops.

We recommend giving yourself two days and staying overnight in Arthur’s Pass Village. That way you can really take your time and soak it all in.

What’s the best time of year for Arthur’s Pass?

It depends entirely on what you want to do. For hiking, the summer months from November to March are ideal. If you want to ski, that’s only possible during the New Zealand winter between June and August.

For more detail, check out our article on the best time to visit New Zealand.

Is there cell phone reception at Arthur’s Pass?

Cell service and internet at Arthur’s Pass are generally very poor or nonexistent. Your best chances are in Arthur’s Pass Village, where hotels also have Wi-Fi.

Download your hiking maps and any other important information ahead of time so you can access them offline.

What’s the infrastructure like along Arthur’s Pass?

There’s really only one settlement along the route: Arthur’s Pass Village. Here you’ll find a gas station, a café, and several hotels. There are also a few campsites along the way.

Other than that, services are sparse. Fill up your gas tank and stock up on groceries in plenty of time — and book your accommodation well in advance, since options are limited and things fill up fast.