Straddling the Southern Alps 153 km from Christchurch and 98 km from Greymouth, the 1,147 sq km Arthur’s Pass National Park, the seventh largest in the country, is a place of huge geological and climatic contrasts. On the western side of the alps, where the rainfall is high, the park is clad in dense and varied rainforest through which steep, boulder-strewn rivers rush; on the drier eastern side, mountain beech forests and tussock-covered river flats predominate. Sixteen mountain peaks in the park exceed 2,000 m.
Otira Viaduct, Arthur's Pass National Park, Canterbury
The park offers the well-equipped
outdoor enthusiast superb mountain climbing and hiking opportunities, as
well as many shorter walks suitable for people of all ages and fitness
levels. Otira Viaduct completed in 1999, this section of State Highway 73 spans the rugged Otira River. The TranzAlpine journey from Christchurch to Greymouth crosses the Canterbury Plains before cutting dramatically through the Southern Alps via the Otira viaduct.
Received from Roman
