About the road

Wilmot Pass Road provides vehicle access to Doubtful Sound/Patea. The road connects West Arm on the shore of Lake Manapōuri, to Deep Cove where there are boat launching facilities.

Wilmot Pass Road is an alpine pass that climbs to an altitude of 671 metres. The road is unsealed (gravel) with lots of tight corners requiring careful navigation.

Driving from one end to the other takes approximately 45 minutes. Driving conditions can be challenging and can include heavy snow or rain. The road is used by tour buses and commercial fishers operating out of Doubtful Sound.

There are no shops on this road and only a few places you can stop. Parking at both West Arm and Deep Cove is limited. To minimise congestion, you must only use parking areas marked for recreational vehicles.

Map of parking areas at West Arm and Deep Cove (PDF, 251K)

How it works

You need a permit to drive on this road or park in the parking areas. The permit must cover your entire visit – the days you use the road and all the days your vehicle is parked.

When buying a permit, you will need to specify:

• the dates you’ll need access to Wilmot Pass Road and parking areas
• details of all vehicles including trailers (vehicle descriptions and registration numbers)
• the number of passengers traveling.

Getting there

To get to West Arm and the start of the road, you must use the barge run by Meister Services to get your vehicle across Lake Manapōuri. The barge leaves from Supply Bay, 21 km from Te Anau, and usually sails only on Wednesdays.

Book your barge crossings before you buy a permit to use Wilmot Pass Road.

Barge Casual Booking — Meister Services

Fees

Fees for the vehicle road-access permit are charged on a per week basis:

• vehicles that weigh 20 tonnes or less : $222 (+GST)
• vehicles weigh over 20 tonnes: $409 (+GST)
• trailers: $34 (+GST).

You must pay for the barge separately.

Apply for a permit

You can make changes to your permit after by logging back in. To request a refund, contact us.

Why we need to manage vehicles

The permit system helps keep Wilmot Pass Road open by:

• contributing to the cost of maintaining the road
• keeping the number of vehicles using the road to a safe and sustainable number.

Contact

You can contact the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre during office hours to make enquiries or report issues.

Te Rua-o-te-moko/Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre