The northernmost of the three main Southern Alps crossings links Canterbury's alpine spa town to the goldfields of the West Coast. At 907m, Lewis Pass is gentler and less trafficked than Arthur's Pass or Haast, making it a relaxed and beautiful alternative. Dense silver beech forest lines both sides, the Maruia River valley is serene, and Reefton — which gained the world's first public electricity supply in 1888, ahead of London and New York — makes a perfect lunch stop before the descent to Greymouth.
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