Haast Pass Drive

Haast Pass is the most southern, the rainiest, and the lowest of the three passes. Haast is the ethereal rainforest and waterfalls pass compared to Arthur’s alpine grandeur and Lewis’s hot springs. The 90km journey over Haast Pass from Tasman Sea to Lake Wanaka (or vice versa) features plenty of quick bang-for-the-buck stops, but no substantial walking tracks or all-day interest points. Most travelers hustle the Haast, eager to either get to Wanaka…or get to the coast. There are a few DOC camps along the route for people who want to break up the Haast Pass drive. Otherwise, waterfalls and river/mountain views will greet you around every corner of the drive.

Here’s a km-by-km run-down of some of the Haast stopping-point attractions, beginning on the west coast at Haast Township (not the VisCtr) (0km). 22km to Depot Creek Falls…27km to Roaring Billy Falls…47km to Pleasant Flats DOC camp…51km to Thunder Creek Falls…57km to Fantail Falls…61km to Haast Pass...71km to Blue Pools…80km to Makaroa town…90km to Lake Wanaka.

Depot Creek Falls. This 35m-ish falls is one of the Haast’s secrets. There’s no sign on the road, but there is a gravel carpark immediately east of the signed Depot Creek bridge. From the parking a wee path leads one minute to the secretive waterfall. It’s the “secret” nature of this spot that makes it special, not because the waterfall is overly special. Pretty much guaranteed solitude. Maybe climb up a bit and have a splash in the couple-sized pool with your partner and share a smile that none of the rushing Haast tourists even know you and this waterfall are hiding in the forest.

Drive: 22km east of Haast Township (1.0km past the signed Cache Creek bridge), or 5km west of Roaring Billy.

Roaring Billy Falls. Roaring Billy is a good stop for a short little walk, especially if you’re coming from the east and have just spent time on the island’s dry side. The flat 5-minute track to Roaring Billy’s view is a wonderful re-introduction to the wet West Coast jungle. Palms and hanging moss everywhere, dense impenetrable bush, and even a big tree that you can stand inside of. On the other hand, if you’ve just come down the wet coast, you’re probably sick of jungle and can’t wait for Wanaka’s sunshine…so skip this. Once down the track you get a distant view of the so-so falls (most impressive after mega-rain), but if you descend to the shingle riverbed and walk over, the Haast River shows an alluring opaque blue as it quietly glides by the Roaring Billy. Drive: 27km from Haast or 20km west of Pleasant Flats. There’s a signed turn-around carpark. Thunder Creek Falls. This is the tour-bus favorite. One minute stop, take picture, hurry on the way. Signs say 28m, but it’s quite obviously a good bit higher—more like 40m. No place to explore or play much, just a photo-op.

Drive: 5km east of Pleasants Flats or 10km west of the pass, obviously signed.

Fantail Falls. Fantail Falls has a secret. Walk the 1-minute track to view the falls across the still-young and crystalline Haast River….and you’ll think, “What’s the secret…this seems just a quick photostop?” Fantail Falls itself is simply a picturesque stair-step waterfall pouring into the Haast River…and if it hasn’t rained too much you may be able to scramble a bit up the left side of the falls for fun or photo angles.

But Fantail’s secret is downstream 200 meters. You may have seen it from the road if you came from the west. Fantail’s neighbor stream charges out of a gushing slot canyon. Simply walk down the shingle bed from Fantail and then up the stream pouring from within the jungle. In a minute you’ll see that “mist-belching waterfall chasm” sums up the scene pretty well. The only way to get close is to wade through the bottom pool and then scamper up and over the rocks. In fair weather the bottom pool is chest deep, but if you grapple along the left side you can make it through. Fantail’s secret provides a good exciting little adventure for gung-ho travelers tired of Haast’s tourist photo-ops. Water sandals and swimsuit are the call here.

Drive: Fantail is clearly signed 6km east of Thunder Creek or just 3.5km west of the Pass. Blue Pools.

The Blue Pools is a short walk over a fun swingbridge to a fenced viewpoint overlooking a deep blue crystal clear river section. The Blue is akin to Hokitika Gorge (D1),but this Blue is clear rather than opaque. Simply eye-candy yummy on a sunny day!

Drive: 10km east of the Pass or 9km west of Makaroa.