From Plain to Pass: Arthur's Pass and the Southern Alps in One Day

Eight and a half hours and the longest distance of our full-day tours: approximately 270 km round trip, from the flat Canterbury Plains to the heart of the Southern Alps, Arthur's Pass. The day is tightly scheduled with most time spent on the road, but each stop is carefully chosen so you can enjoy the grandeur of the Arthur's Pass National Park landscapes.

In the morning we'll pick you up directly from your accommodation in the city centre, and from there our route will follow SH73 through the Canterbury Plains (one of New Zealand's largest plains, approximately 70 km across) to the Southern Alps ridge itself.

Mountains Growing Right Now

The Southern Alps formed along the Alpine Fault, where the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates have been colliding with each other for approximately 12 million years. During this time the mountains have risen a total of almost 20 kilometres, but erosion works almost as fast as the uplift, so the actual height of the ridge remains relatively stable. The current rate of uplift in the central Southern Alps is approximately 10 mm per year, making them one of the fastest-growing mountains in the world. The Alpine Fault is the longest straight natural line on Earth's surface (over 600 km); the last major rupture occurred around 1717, and the average interval between such ruptures is approximately 330 years.

Kura Tāwhiti — Treasure from a Distant Land

The limestone rocks of Kura Tāwhiti / Castle Hill formed from deposits on the bottom of an ancient shallow sea approximately 30-40 million years ago and were lifted to the surface roughly 22 million years ago. For Ngāi Tahu this place was not only a shelter on trading routes but also a hunting ground; rock art preserved on the rocks dates back approximately 500 years, left by the Waitaha people. In 1998 the area was granted tōpuni status - a special protection category recognising the cultural value of the place. Today it is one of the country's most popular bouldering destinations, as well as a filming location for the Narnia films and "The Lord of the Rings"; in 2002 the Dalai Lama XIV visited the place and, according to those accompanying him, called it one of the planet's energy centres.

Arthur's Pass Village - From Construction Camp to National Park Gateway

The first European to pass through the pass was surveyor Arthur Dobson in 1864 - the passage proved so steep that the horse had to be left at the summit and the dog lowered down on a rope. The village grew as a temporary camp for the construction of the Otira Tunnel (8.5 km through solid rock, 1908–1923), and from 1914 the railway arrived - 9 years before the tunnel was completed. Today the village stands at 740 metres elevation, surrounded by beech forest; you can reach it by road or by the TranzAlpine train. It is here that you are most likely to see kea - the world's only alpine parrot, known for its curiosity and ability to open car locks in search of food.

Devils Punchbowl Falls - Threads of Hinekakai

The 131-metre waterfall - the highest in the Canterbury region - falls from a "hanging valley" carved by glaciers during the last ice age. The Māori name for the waterfall, Te Tautea o Hinekakai, compares the thin intertwining streams of water to threads of processed flax. The walking track to the viewing platform is approximately 2 km return with an elevation gain of approximately 90 metres via wooden stairs, averaging 45 minutes each way, through dense beech forest where kea live and the rare large spotted kiwi (roroa) can be found.

Otira Viaduct - Engineering Answer to a Deadly Road

The 440-metre viaduct opened in November 1999 (built by McConnell Smith Pty Ltd) and replaced a narrow, winding section of road built in 1866 that regularly fell victim to avalanches and landslides: over a short stretch the elevation drops almost 500 metres. Construction came at a heavy price - in July 1998 a 25-year-old worker, Tony Western, died on the construction site, and a memorial plaque was installed at the base of one of the supports in his memory. The viewing platform at the viaduct is another popular spot for observing kea.

The route through the mountain pass is more dependent on weather and traffic on the single-lane sections of SH73 than other routes, so the schedule includes a time buffer at the end of the day. As of March 2026, DOC reported partial closure of the track to Devils Punchbowl Falls (bridge over the Bealey River damaged) - we always check the route status before departure on doc.govt.nz.

Tour Summary:

• Duration: full day, approximately 09:00–17:30
• Format: private tour in a Nissan Serena minivan for 1–4 people or Toyota Haice minivan for 5-8
• Pickup and return — from your accommodation in central Christchurch or meeting in the city centre at Cathedral Square
• Route: Kura Tāwhiti / Castle Hill → Arthur's Pass Village → Devils Punchbowl Falls → Otira Viaduct
• Weather-dependent route: in adverse conditions at the pass, the programme may be adjusted
• Languages: English and Russian, other languages by request