Discover 4 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Arthur's Pass National Park (New Zealand). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Temple Basin, Avalanche Peak, and Mount Rolleston. Also, be sure to include Arthur's Pass in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Arthur's Pass National Park (Canterbury).
Table of Contents
Temple Basin
Ski area in New Zealand. Temple Basin is a club skifield in Arthur's Pass, in New Zealand's South Island. Operated by two clubs, the Temple Basin Ski Club, and the Canterbury University Snow Sports Club, the ski area has 3 rope tows, two on-site lodges, two shelters and a ski school and ski shop. The tows cover an elevation range of 1326–1753 metres, for a skiable domain of 320 hectares. Its natural terrain has been highly recommended by adventure skiers on several occasions.
Temple Basin is home to the New Zealand Snow Safety Institute. The New Zealand Snow Safety Institute runs a series of courses throughout the year on aspects of mountaineering and mountain safety. These courses are aimed for climbers, skiers, snowboarders and trampers. The lodges at Temple Basin allows for students to stay on field and watch the snow pack evolve over time aiding the learning of these skills.
Temple Basin is approximately 2 hours from Christchurch by car, followed by a 45-minute walk. Like many club fields, a good portion of the skiable area is accessible only by hiking, including some hiking between lifts.
The field consists of 4 main basins. Cassidy Tow accesses a smooth open basin with beginner and intermediate terrain. Temple Tow accesses an intermediate slope. Between Cassidy and Temple tows a stream gut offers rock faces and snow traps. A short walk from the top of Temple Tow brings users to Downhill Basin and the fields highest Tow. Downhill consists of a wide open bowl with Blimit and Mt Temples peaks above. A traverse and/or hike from the top of Downhill Tow gives users access to Bills Basin, an intermediate basin with a collection of chutes at the bottom. From the top of Downhill tow one can also hike to the peak accessing the Mingha Valley over the ridge. The Mingha, whilst not patrolled, is commonly used by backcountry skiers and snowboarders.
This field is just on the Western side of the Southern Alps and so receives significantly more snowstorms than those areas further east.[1]
Avalanche Peak
Peak in New Zealand. Avalanche Peak is a 1,833 metres peak in the Arthur's Pass National Park in New Zealand. It is subject to avalanches in the winter, hence its name.
It is the most popular day walking peak from Arthur's Pass, as it is easily accessible from the village and offers views of several mountain ranges in the park on a clear day. It is also a popular place for kea.
There is an annual mountain run, the Avalanche Peak Challenge which crosses the peak.
Avalanche Peak has sheer drops of around 80 metres (260 ft) at the peak of the mountain and therefore is not recommended in icy or windy weather.[2]
Mount Rolleston
Peak in New Zealand. Mount Rolleston is a prominent peak in Arthur's Pass National Park in the South Island of New Zealand. It was named by the surveyor Arthur Dudley Dobson in 1864, who observed the peak while searching for a route through the Southern Alps to the West Coast gold fields. The name honours the then Superintendent of the Canterbury Province, William Rolleston.
While not the highest mountain in the National Park (Mount Murchison holds that honour), it is well known because it can be viewed from State Highway 73 that runs through Arthur's Pass to the West Coast of the South Island. It is also popular with climbers, as it can be climbed in a day starting from Arthur's Pass township. Mount Rolleston was first climbed in 1912 by climbers H. Thomson and J. Gilligan. Mount Rolleston can be climbed via several routes, including the Rome or Goldney Ridges, the latter of which allows access to Otira Slide, which in winter can be descended by skis.
The upper slopes of Mount Rolleston are the headwaters of several rivers, most notably the Waimakariri and several tributaries of the Otira.[3]
Arthur's Pass
Pass in New Zealand. Arthur's Pass, a mountain pass in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, marks part of the boundary between the West Coast and Canterbury regions. Located 140 km from Christchurch and 95 km from Greymouth, the pass comprises part of a saddle between the valleys of the Otira River and of the Bealey River. Arthur's Pass lies on the border of the Selwyn and Westland districts.
A township of the same name (Arthur's Pass) lies about 5 km south of the mountain pass. The pass is named after Arthur Dudley Dobson and a memorial at the pass commemorates him.[4]