Haast Pass
Encyclopedia
Haast Pass is a mountain pass
in the Southern Alps
of the South Island
of New Zealand
. It is named for Julius von Haast
, a 19th century explorer who was also geologist for the Provincial government of Canterbury
. The pass was used by Māori in pre-European times, but not on a regular basis.
It is one of the three passes where a road crosses over the Southern Alps, the other two being Lewis Pass
and Arthur's Pass, although the Homer Tunnel
also passes under the Main Divide. The road through Haast Pass (State Highway 6
) was converted from a rough track to a formed road in 1966. and finally received a complete tarmac
surface by 1995. In the early 20th century, a railway from the West Coast
through the pass to Otago
was considered; it would have linked the Ross Branch with the Otago Central Railway, which then terminated in Omakau. However, the line never came to fruition; the Otago Central Railway terminated in Cromwell
and no railway was built south of Ross
, just a lightly laid bush tramway to serve logging interests near Lake Ianthe
.
The Haast Pass rises to a height of 562 metres above sea level at the saddle between the valleys of the Haast
and Makarora River
s. As such, it is the lowest of the passes traversing the Southern Alps. The Haast Pass road is devoid of any settlements between Haast
and Makarora
. The road passes through predominantly unmodified beech
forest. The pass itself is within the limits of Mount Aspiring National Park
and forms part of the boundary between Otago
and the West Coast
.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
in the Southern Alps
Southern Alps
The Southern Alps is a mountain range extending along much of the length of New Zealand's South Island, reaching its greatest elevations near the island's western side...
of the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is named for Julius von Haast
Julius von Haast
Sir Johann Franz "Julius" von Haast was a German geologist. He founded Canterbury Museum at Christchurch.-Biography:...
, a 19th century explorer who was also geologist for the Provincial government of Canterbury
Canterbury, New Zealand
The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...
. The pass was used by Māori in pre-European times, but not on a regular basis.
It is one of the three passes where a road crosses over the Southern Alps, the other two being Lewis Pass
Lewis Pass
Lewis Pass is a mountain pass in the South Island of New Zealand.The northernmost of the three main passes across the Southern Alps, it is higher than the Haast Pass, but slightly lower than Arthur's Pass...
and Arthur's Pass, although the Homer Tunnel
Homer Tunnel
The Homer Tunnel is a road tunnel in the Fiordland region of the South Island of New Zealand, opened in 1954. New Zealand State Highway 94 passes through the tunnel, linking Milford Sound to Te Anau and Queenstown, by piercing the Main Divide at the Homer Saddle...
also passes under the Main Divide. The road through Haast Pass (State Highway 6
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
) was converted from a rough track to a formed road in 1966. and finally received a complete tarmac
Tarmac
Tarmac is a type of road surface. Tarmac refers to a material patented by Edgar Purnell Hooley in 1901...
surface by 1995. In the early 20th century, a railway from the West Coast
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
through the pass to Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
was considered; it would have linked the Ross Branch with the Otago Central Railway, which then terminated in Omakau. However, the line never came to fruition; the Otago Central Railway terminated in Cromwell
Cromwell, New Zealand
Cromwell is a town in Central Otago in the Otago region of New Zealand.It is situated between State Highway 6 and State Highway 8 leading to the Lindis Pass, 75 km northeast, and Alexandra, 33 km south. The road to Alexandra winds through the Cromwell Gorge...
and no railway was built south of Ross
Ross, New Zealand
Ross is a small town located on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.It lies 27 kilometres south-west of Hokitika and 46 kilometres north-east of Harihari...
, just a lightly laid bush tramway to serve logging interests near Lake Ianthe
Lake Ianthe
Lake Ianthe is a lake located on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. A number of small streams flow into the lake and it empties into the Wanganui River...
.
The Haast Pass rises to a height of 562 metres above sea level at the saddle between the valleys of the Haast
Haast River
The Haast River has its terminus on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.The Haast River drains the western watershed of the Haast Pass. It is 100 kilometres in length, and enters the Tasman Sea near Haast township. The river's main tributary is the Landsborough River.The grassy flats...
and Makarora River
Makarora River
-Geography:The headwaters are in Mount Aspiring National Park, on the eastern flanks of the Southern Alps near Haast Pass, which is the saddle between the Makarora and Haast River valleys. The Makarora flows south into the northern end of Lake Wanaka after passing the small community of Makarora...
s. As such, it is the lowest of the passes traversing the Southern Alps. The Haast Pass road is devoid of any settlements between Haast
Haast, New Zealand
Haast is an area in the Westland District territorial authority on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island. The Haast region covers over ....
and Makarora
Makarora
Makarora is a small community within the Queenstown-Lakes District of the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand.It is situated on State Highway 6 on the eastern side of the Haast Pass and adjacent to the Makarora River....
. The road passes through predominantly unmodified beech
Nothofagus
Nothofagus, also known as the southern beeches, is a genus of 35 species of trees and shrubs native to the temperate oceanic to tropical Southern Hemisphere in southern South America and Australasia...
forest. The pass itself is within the limits of Mount Aspiring National Park
Mount Aspiring National Park
Mount Aspiring National Park is located in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, north of Fiordland National Park, and between Otago and south Westland. The park forms part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site.-Geography:...
and forms part of the boundary between Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
and the West Coast
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
.