#61 of 79 · mountain
Arthur’s Pass
Springfield, Canterbury → Hokitika, West Coast
163 km · Nov – Apr · Moderate
SH73 over the Southern Alps. Beech, a viaduct, kea on the car park rail, then the wet side of the island. The pass is the point; Hokitika is the sea.
Viewpoints
Castle Hill
The limestone before the climb. A stop, not a glance.
35 km
700 m
Arthur’s Pass village
Kea. Do not feed them. Do not leave food on the roof.
95 km
737 m
Otira Viaduct
The drop, the fans, the west. This is the postcard.
110 km
720 m
- Road
- Good tarmac, sudden weather, ice in the shoulders even in shoulder season. The Otira Viaduct is the drawing. Chains in winter; check NZTA before you go.
Tips
- 01
The west is another climate
Leave Springfield in sun, arrive in rain. That is the Alps doing their job.
- 02
Do not feed the kea
They already know how to open a door. You do not need to help.
From the road
2 notes
Field reports from people who have driven this route.
Driven this road? Join as a driver to leave a note from the road.
Hamish R.
Nov 2025
Springfield in sun, Otira in a wall of rain. A kea had the wiper. November. Chains in the boot, unused.
Mei L.
Feb 2026
Castle Hill at nine, village for a pie, viaduct in cloud. The west is another country. Do not skip Hokitika.
