Visit Fabulous Haast Pass New Zealand
to Observe Fascinating Exotic Birds

Listening to the birds of Haast Pass New Zealand enchants me immediately. Here, located on the South Island of New Zealand, birds with playful names and habits such as tui, kakaricki, kiwi, and kuku soar, dive, and run. Though I don’t see all of them, their names give a glimpse of their mystery. The morning is clear and we prepare to traverse the spectacular mountain through the Southern Alps.

The visitor center offers maps of New Zealand and information on eco tours at Haast Pass, New Zealand. The region, like Kaikoura or Nelson Lakes, is a great destination for nature tourism. Sites are enthusiastically mapped and we continue on our way.

Driving a rental car in New Zealand through Boiler Flat, we stop at Cameron Flat and enjoy a splendid view of the Makarora Valley. Overnight camping is available for a reasonable fee. Moving on to Davis Flat, we picnic and make use of the barbeque area. Camping and toilet facilities are available. I walk the old bridle track to the summit of the pass. About three miles (5 km.), the path is well graded. Handsome forest and lush wetland scenery, my traveling companion covers the distance by highway and we meet at the pass memorial. The memorial recognizes builders and visionaries of the road.

Arriving next at Fantail Falls, we stop and walk a short way through the bush to the riverbed at the snow-fed waterfall. It is one of a group of majestic waterfalls, including Thunder Creek and Roaring Billy. The region’s falls are fed by the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers.

At Roaring Billy Falls we follow a footpath amidst ferns and abundant foliage. Our hike offers striking views of Haast River and the falls. We stop frequently along the way to take advantage of photo opportunities.

Back on the Haast Highway, mountains rise to stunning heights. Our clear morning has turned to rain but the mountain pass road is clear through wild terrain. We cross the Alpine Fault, a long geological fault contributing to the formation of these mountains. No major earthquakes for about a century, it adds to the ancient mystery of the mountain pass and our time with it.

A top destination for eco tourism, Haast Pass, New Zealand offers varied gifts of terrain and wildlife. Allow plenty of time to make stops along the way to make this your perfect New Zealand vacation.