Arthur’s Pass: Walking Tracks, Waterfalls and Mountain Forest

Explore Arthur’s Pass via its walking tracks: they lead through mountain beech forest and alpine landscapes to waterfalls, viewpoints and historic places. The tracks differ considerably in their described features. A short detour to a waterfall sits alongside steep climbs to the tree line and a route from the village to the Arthur’s Pass summit. When choosing your holiday accommodation, it may therefore be important to consider which of these experiences you would like to make the focus of your stay.

Waterfalls and tracks through mountain forest

The Devils Punchbowl Walking Track climbs steeply through native mountain beech forest, also known as Tāwhairauriki, to a viewing platform near the foot of Devils Punchbowl Falls. The falls flow year-round and are most impressive in spring, when snow melts in the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana. This gives the track description a distinctive seasonal aspect: in spring, the focus is on the meltwater, while the falls also flow at other times of year.

The Arthur’s Pass Walking Track offers a different perspective on waterfalls. From the Punchbowl car park, this track takes 20 minutes to reach a viewpoint overlooking Bridal Veil Falls. The route passes through subalpine mountain beech forest and Dracophyllum. The Arthur’s Pass Walking Track also allows you to walk from the village of Arthur’s Pass to the Dobson Memorial at the Arthur’s Pass summit. Another section leads through alpine shrubland and wetlands to Jacks Hut, a restored accommodation building for road workers.

From valley views to the tree line

The Bealey Valley Track starts at the car park opposite Jacks Hut in Arthur’s Pass Village on SH73. Along the way, it crosses the Bealey Chasm: a narrow gorge where the river cascades over large boulders. The track continues to a snow tussock clearing with views of Mt Rolleston. This sequence of a river gorge followed by an open view makes this walking experience distinct from routes focused on waterfalls or mountain forest.

For a steep climb, consider the Mount Bealey Track. It starts at the end of Mount Bealey Road in Arthur’s Pass Village and climbs to the tree line. From there, you can enjoy good views of Arthur’s Pass and the surrounding mountains. The two routes of the Avalanche Peak Route also start on SH73 in Arthur’s Pass Village; their starting points are about 700 metres apart. The Millennium Walk offers a different kind of route: it starts opposite the Arthur’s Pass Visitor Centre and crosses a small stone bridge with views of Avalanche Creek Waterfall.

Traces of history and culture

On the Millennium Walk, views of the waterfall go hand in hand with a stop at Arthur’s Pass Chapel. The track ends at the road by the chapel; its altar window frames Avalanche Creek Waterfall. Those interested in the area’s history can also discover Aniwaniwa: built in 1926, the building is an important example of a residential building in Arthur’s Pass designed as a recreational chalet. The Arthur’s Pass Historic Walk includes a short detour to a platform with views of a waterfall on Avalanche Creek.

Weather, getting there and the surrounding area

The Arthur’s Pass National Park Visitor Centre provides up-to-date information on track, river and mountain conditions, weather forecasts and avalanche conditions. Several bus services between Christchurch and the West Coast stop daily in the village of Arthur’s Pass; the TranzAlpine scenic train also stops in Arthur’s Pass. These stops provide specific options for getting there, while the different starting points in the village give access to different walking destinations.

Nearby, the Temple Basin Track starts at the Temple Basin car park. It climbs steeply to an open tussock basin with ski club buildings and the Lockwood day shelter. Alpine flowers typically bloom in the alpine meadows along the Temple Basin Track from November to February. The area thus offers another type of landscape alongside the tracks in the village.

More destination pages: Culverden, Diamond Harbour, Staveley, Waikari, Tai Tapu, Little River, West Melton and Temuka.

For the main travel overview: Canterbury.