Mountain Passes
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New Zealand · Otago · West Coast · Mackenzie

South Island High Country

Three passes, two ecosystems, and the richest scenic loop in the South Island. Crown Range, Haast, and Lindis, based out of Queenstown.

Route plate for South Island High Country
Elevation © NASA SRTM · Roads © OpenStreetMap contributors

A three-day circuit from Queenstown that links the three classic South Island road passes: Crown Range at 1,076 m, Haast at 564 m, and Lindis at 971 m. The loop climbs from Queenstown over the Crown Range into the Wanaka basin, runs north-west across Haast to the West Coast rainforest, doubles back over the same pass to Lake Hāwea, then turns east over Lindis into the Mackenzie Basin before returning south to Queenstown through the Kawarau Gorge. Roughly 650 kilometres in total.

The route

  1. Start

    Queenstown

  2. Cardrona Hotel

    1863 gold-rush pub on the Crown Range descent

  3. Crown Range

    1076 m · New Zealand

  4. Stop

    Wanaka

    Lake town, the usual first-night base

  5. Lake Hāwea

    Blue-water lake with a short climb above on SH 6

  6. Blue Pools

    Clear glacial pools in Mount Aspiring National Park

  7. Gates of Haast

    Narrow river gorge with a single-span bridge

  8. Haast Pass

    564 m · New Zealand

  9. Stop

    Haast village

    West Coast turnaround, rainforest and fuel

  10. Thunder Creek Falls

    28 m waterfall directly off the highway

  11. Stop

    Hāwea

    Second night, or return to Wanaka

  12. Lindis Pass

    971 m · New Zealand

  13. Clay Cliffs of Omarama

    Honesty-box badlands formations

  14. Stop

    Omarama

    Hot pools, Mackenzie Basin service town

  15. Kawarau Gorge

    SH 6 river gorge on the return to Queenstown

  16. Finish

    Queenstown

Who it's for

  • Cyclists: a serious week-long tour rather than three days. Haast in particular is exposed to the Tasman weather, and wind and rain on the West Coast can be heavy.
  • Motorcyclists: paved throughout, low overall elevation, and some of the best road scenery on earth. Late spring and autumn are the pick.
  • Drivers: a comfortable three-day rental-car loop. Queenstown is the natural base and has the country's second-largest airport.

Practical notes

  • Base: Queenstown for the start and finish. Wanaka makes a natural middle-night stop; Haast village is the logical turnaround on the West Coast.
  • Season: year-round, but winter (June to September) brings chain restrictions on Crown Range and Lindis. October to April is the simpler window.
  • Fuel: Queenstown, Cromwell, Wanaka, Haast, Omarama, and Tarras all have stations. The stretch from Haast north to Fox Glacier is the longest gap, 120 km.
  • Rental vehicles: a standard 2WD car is enough for the full loop. AWD is not required and tyre chains are rented at service stations when conditions warrant.

Passes on this route

South Island High Country — quick answers

How long is the South Island High Country?
650 km with 4,500 metres of climbing.
How long does the South Island High Country take?
3 days. Cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers pace it differently; the route itself is designed around that timeframe.
How hard is the South Island High Country?
Difficulty: Moderate. The rating reflects cycling effort. For motor vehicles it is a purely scenic drive.
Which passes does the South Island High Country include?
Crown Range, Haast Pass, Lindis Pass.
When is the best time to ride the South Island High Country?
Year-round (chains may be required in winter). High passes carry snow into early summer; confirm opening dates close to your trip.
Is the South Island High Country paved?
Yes, the South Island High Country runs entirely on paved roads.