TRIP 5 WEST COAST
The drama and beauty of this isolated corner of the country has to be seen to be believed.
TRIP 5
a journey through
Haast
SIDE TRIP
Fox Glacier to Haast via SH 6 1hr 30min, 121km
T
he incredible variety and breathtaking scenery of the southwest corner of the South Island – its windswept beaches, dunes, lakes and wetlands has earned it UNESCO World Heritage area status. It includes four national parks – Westland Tai Poutini, Aoraki Mt Cook, Mt Aspiring and Fiordland.
Haast to Jackson Bay via Haast- Jackson Bay Rd 40min, 51.3km
Haast to Wanaka Inland via SH 6 1hr 52min, 142km
Heading south, the angle of the coastal trees almost bent to the ground gives you an idea of the weather in these parts. It’s windy, wild and wet. But more rain than other regions means the rainforest is greener and the waterfalls and rainbows are even more spectacular than elsewhere. From Haast Pass to Wanaka, the landscape changes, opening to valleys and wide views.
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M U S T D O ’ S • W E S T COA S T
TOP: Ship Creek • ABOVE: Haast World Heritage Area BOTH IMAGES: © West Coast Tourism
