Haast Pass/Tioripatea short walks
Short walk
Getting there
Haast Pass/Tioripatea is on State Highway 6, the road linking Wanaka and Haast.
About the area
Haast Pass/Tioripatea is a spectacular and scenic road linking Wanaka and Haast. The scenery includes mountains, rainforest, rivers, wetlands and sea.
Description
Pleasant Flat
Time: 5 min return
Distance: 0.2 km
Starting from the carpark this is an enjoyable, short bush walk beside a tranquil mountain stream. Pleasant Flat is an attractive picnic and camping area with impressive views of Mount Hooker. Overnight camping is permitted; a small charge applies.
Blue Pools Walk
Time: 30 min return
Distance: 1.5 km
An easy walk that starts at the carpark just north of Muddy Creek and leads through silver beech/tahina to a swingbridge overlooking the pools at the mouth of Blue River. Large brown and rainbow trout can often be seen feeding in the pools.
Blue Pools Walk, Haast Highway
Fantail Falls
Time: 5 min return
Distance: 0.2 km
From the carpark the short bush walk leads to a beautiful fan-shaped waterfall at the foot of Fantail Creek.
Cameron Lookout Walk
Time: 20 min return
Distance: 1 km
The walk takes you up through silver beech forest to a viewing platform overlooking the Makarora Valley and surrounding mountain peaks.
Makarora Bush
Time: 15 min
Distance: 1 km
Starting from the car park, just north of the Makarora Visitor Centre, this looped nature walk passes through podocarp and silver beech forest with good specimens of matai, miro, kahikatea and rimu. Another feature is a pitsaw display, illustrating this pioneering timber milling technique.
Kidds Bush Nature Walk
Time: 30 min
Distance: 1 km
Sawyer Burn Track
Time: 2 hr to the bushline and return
Distance: 2.5 km
Both walks start from the Kidds Bush Recreation Reserve, six kilometres along the Hunter Valley Road – turn off SH 6 at The Neck. The nature walk is an easy loop track through mountain beech forest.
The Sawyer Burn Track climbs through the forest to the bushline and has superb views of Lake Hawea and the surrounding mountains.
Plan and prepare
What to expect on a short walk:
- Easy walking for up to an hour
- Track is well formed, with an even surface. There may be steps or slopes
- Suitable for people of most abilities and fitness
- Stream and rivers crossings are bridged
- Walking shoes required
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