Arthur's Pass National Park

Arthur's Pass National Park is located in the South Island of New Zealand and covers 1,185 km² of mostly mountainous terrain.[1]

This article is about the National Park in New Zealand. For the township, see Arthur's Pass. For the mountain pass, see Arthur's Pass (mountain pass).

Arthur's Pass National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Map of New Zealand
LocationCanterbury, New Zealand
Nearest cityChristchurch, New Zealand
Coordinates42°57′S 171°34′E
Area1,184.7 km2 (457.4 sq mi)
Established1929
Governing bodyDepartment of Conservation
Arthur's Pass Village
Flower of Ranunculus lyallii at Arthur's Pass
Arthur's Pass seen from the slopes of Avalanche Peak
Ranunculus lyallii at Arthur's Pass

It was established in 1929, becoming the first national park in the South Island and the third in New Zealand. It is bisected by State Highway 73. The road passes through Arthur's Pass village and the mountain pass with the same name over the Southern Alps at a height of 920 metres above sea level. The park is administered by the Department of Conservation and operate a depot, administration and information centre in Arthur's Pass village.

Geography

The park is very distinctly split by the main divide of the South Island. The eastern side is typically drier and consists of beech forest and wide riverbeds, while the western side contains dense rainforest. Much of the geography was formed by ancient glacial action, forming flat bottomed U-shaped valleys. In the middle is a high range, consisting of large, snow-covered peaks and scree slopes.[2]

The park contains the following geographical features:

Recreation

The park is popular for tramping, skiing, hunting and mountaineering.

Popular tramping tracks include:

  • Mingha-Deception, part of the Coast to Coast race
  • Avalanche Peak
  • Hawdon-Edwards

Park safety

Arthur's Pass National Park has a reputation as one of the most dangerous national parks in New Zealand.[3] In the first three months of 2006 alone two people died whilst walking in the park. Whilst no formal studies have been conducted, amongst the tramping community and the permanent Arthur's Pass community it is felt that the combination of harsh alpine terrain and easy accessibility combine to contribute to the high death and injury rate.

The mountains around Arthur's Pass contain some very challenging terrain. The marked day walks in the park, all easily accessible from the Arthur's Pass village carparks, involve vertical ascents of around 1000 metres (3000 feet) and include several hours well above the tree line. The peaks are highly exposed to the weather, the tracks are often very steep (steep enough to require the walker to pull themselves up with their hands in some places) and are often marked only by poles strung across a rocky landscape. Below the tree line the bush is dense and thick. In common with many alpine areas the weather is subject to frequent and sudden change. There are frequent bluffs and cliffs and most creeks running down the mountains tumble over waterfalls in one place or another. Further, there are a number of harder routes within the park that require a high level of mountaineering skill and the use of ropes and other such equipment. In short, safely traversing the terrain requires at least a moderate level of experience, knowledge and equipment as it is true 'back country'.

Arthur's Pass National Park is also within a few hours' driving time of Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. This easy access for visitors to New Zealand, as well as the immediate access to the mountain trails from the village (unlike many other parts of the Alps where getting to the mountains requires a day or more tramp over more gentle terrain, which tends to dissuade the less prepared tramper) appears to lead to larger numbers of unprepared persons overstepping their abilities and getting into mortal peril. The most common scenarios are: persons caught above the tree line in bad weather with insufficient clothing and/or food then suffer from hypothermia; persons attempt a climb that requires knowledge or equipment they do not possess and often become stuck on a ledge or cliff, unable to climb back or continue on due to the steepness of the terrain, often then facing the problems of bad weather/hypothermia; persons attempt a climb that requires knowledge or equipment they do not possess and attempt a manoeuvre that result in a serious or fatal fall; persons become lost or disoriented, often due to change of weather, lose the trail or attempt to take a shortcut and suffer a serious or fatal fall.

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See also

References
  1. "Data Table - Protected Areas - LINZ Data Service". Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  2. Arthur's Pass National Park > New Zealand, www.newzealand.com. Retrieved 30 November 2009
  3. "Arthurs Pass National Park travel info: most dangerous - beautiful park". Travellerhints.com - Best Nightlife Party Fun Info. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
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