Haast Pass — Wanaka to Haast West CoastCrossing.
Distance
145 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
800 m
Haast Pass — Wanaka to Haast West Coast Crossing.
SH6 climbs north from Wanaka along Lake Hawea, threads through Makarora and the beech forest of Mount Aspiring National Park, then crosses Haast Pass before plunging through temperate rainforest to the Tasman Sea at Haast township. The lowest of the three Southern Alps highway crossings at 562m, but easily the most lushly forested. One side is dry Otago tussock, the other a green wall of rainfall.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance145 km
Days1
Total climb800 m
Fuel stops1 along route
DifficultyModerate
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The route.
WanakaStart · Start in Wanaka on the shore of Lake Wanaka. Fuel up — only intermittent stations on SH6 north to Haast. Departure before 10am avoids the tourist coaches.
Lake HaweaScenic Point · The road climbs above Lake Hawea eastern shore. The Neck, where Hawea and Wanaka lakes nearly touch, is the narrowest land bridge between two major NZ lakes.
MakaroraFuel Stop · Last fuel before Haast (88 km of bush ahead). Cafe at Makarora is the regular stop. Beech forest tunnel begins here with Mount Aspiring National Park flanking both sides.
Haast Pass SummitMountain Pass · Lowest of the three Southern Alps highway passes at 562m. Summit is unmarked except for a small DOC sign — easy to miss in the trees. Fantail Falls and the Gates of Haast cascade are short walks down the western side.
Haast TownshipEnd · Remote West Coast settlement. Famous for sandflies and the Hard Antler bar. From here SH6 north reaches Fox Glacier in 120 km; Jackson Bay south sits at the end of the road.
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