From Wanaka to Haast - a scenic wonder trip
Trip Start
Oct 20, 2003
1
27
29
Trip End
Ongoing
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Haast,
New Zealand
Friday, July 27, 2007
The area toward Wanaka turns from the rolling farmland and soon the mountains in the
distance become a closer reality. You are entering the mountain ranges. The holiday home
area of Shania Twain where she has purchased a large tract of land for her get-away
place. As you will note coming into Wanaka it seems as if it is all up for sale. More real
estate signs than properties. When you get to Wanaka you will see why so many people
flock here.
Just before Wanaka are two very interesting places to stop for everyone especially
families, the famous Warbirds over Wanaka display of vintage fighter planes along with a
Transport and Toy Museum. Every Easter there is an air show where over 50 of these
vintage aircraft take to the air.
At the same place you can also experience the Wanaka Beerworks with tours and tasting
daily. You can also book air flights and skydiving.
Across the road is something very new and a real experience with Wayne Palmer's "Have
a Shot". He provides a golf driving range, claybird shooting, rifle ranges, archery ranges
and an outdoor battlefield. (check this one out! Nine cannons mounted in their own
fortress that fire rubber tennis balls.) If you want to try your luck trout fishing in this
region's world famous trout rivers and lakes here is where you can book with the
Riversong Guides. Ask for Jacob Berry.
Head north from Wanaka on Route Six through the breath-taking drive along Lake
Hawera and Lake Wanaka on to the Haast Pass. Stop by the town of Lake Hawera and
visit the pub at the Lake Hawea Motor Inn for real Kiwi hospitality. Ask for Fred and tell
him Ron the traveling bus man sent you.
You are in the mountains and driving along the lakes with every turn a photo opportunity.
Plenty of pull offs for that on the way to Makaroa. Three good rest stops along the way
plus a top DoC Camp at Boundary creek 12 kms from Lake Hawea. (click here for more
details).
There are cafes and fuel in Makaroa and an Information Site and the Makarora
Wilderness Holiday Park.(www.makarora.co.nz) From Makaroa through to Haast is what
I consider one of the most startling drives in the country up to Haast Pass and down the
other side to Haast and the Tasman Sea. You are driving through the Mount Aspiring
National Park.
I am fascinated with the giant moss covered native forest you drive through following the
path of the Haast River. It is a land of deep gorges and waterfalls everywhere during most
of the season especially early in September and October. Lots of walks in the area plus
some short stops to places like the Blue Pools a thirty minute walk about 10 kms past
Makaroa. A DoC Camp at Cameron Flats just past the Blue Pools and about 10 kms from
Haast Pass. From here it is downhill into Westland and on to the West Coast. A few pull
off spots along the way until reaching the big descent. it is one of those special
experiences the first time over this route. Cross the bridge and stop at the parking area to
take the time to see the magnificent river rapids.
Just past the bridge a very short distance it is worth another stop to see Thunder Creek
Falls. From here the road soon levels out to flats along the Haast River. Coming from the
West Coast I recommend stopping at the Pleasant Flat DoC Camp if you are running into
evening or tired from the long haul before going into the Haast Pass drive.
Just by chance we had stopped along the road to take a photo of three massive waterfalls
all very near to one another. A man stepped out of the bushes and commented jokingly
who introduced himself as Warren, "That will be $20 please." We struck up a
conversation as he was joined by his wife Fiona. They had just purchased one of the rare
pieces of land not belonging to Mt Aspiring Park and spent their weekends here from
their home in Queenstown. Fiona is a watercolourist see website. This will be a great
place to stop when they complete their plans. Watch this space. It is a long way from
anywhere else in the heart of paradise as they call it.
The end of this drive through the mountains brings you to Haast after the 145 kms drive
from Wanaka. The best place to stop after your drive whether it is from the north or the
south is McGuire's Lodge right on Route Six. Great food and fabulous coffee at their cafe,
restaurant and bar and accommodation if you need it. The only place we stop and rest
before going on. Sometime if we are running late we will take the next road left by the
bridge and go to Haast Beach and spend the night freedom camping. We do go on to
Jackson Bay, time permitting, where a feed of crayfish is a must. More later on this side
trip.
Here also is a must stop at the Haast Visitor Information Centre just down the road from
McGuires so you can see what all is going on in this region that is internationally
recognized as a World Heritage Area.
At McGuires enquire about HeliVentures. If you want to truly experience the tops in
scenic helicopter flights this is the one. It is owned and operated by a pioneer in the
business ( a true legend) Dave Saxton and his son Morgan who have over 40 years
combined flying experience. The tales Dave can tell alone are worth the visit to see them.
Not only scenic flights to the Lost Valley, the glaciers, Mt. Aspiring, Mt. Cook, Milford
Sound, they also provide fishing and hunting trips. What a way to really experience this
wild country of the West Coast and south to the Sounds. Areas one could never dream of
seeing otherwise and from a perspective that illustrates the massive depth and dimension.
Sometimes the crowds at Franz Josef and at Queenstown overwhelm the time allowed for
everyone to take a flight from there. One of the ways not to get bogged down with too
many people and no place to park as in some of the higher trafficked areas is to go to
Haast. From here at Haast with Heliventures it is easy. If you are planning any kind of
helicopter flights check this one out. Paula had positive experiences with Dave Saxton in
the pioneer days when he used to fly her and her partner in to remote areas to gold mine.
After one of the highlights of your trip(be it from Queenstown) it is now time to head on
to experience even more fabulous country and people...............
