West Coast and Haast Pass

This stretch of SH6 follows the Tasman coast south past Hokitika, Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, then reaches Haast and climbs Haast Pass at 563 m. It drops to Lake Wānaka and the Southern Lakes via Cromwell and the Kawarau Gorge. Distances between towns are long and fuel is thin, so it suits a relaxed three to four days.

The stops

1. Start

   Greymouth

2. Town

   Hokitika

   Greenstone workshops and driftwood beach

3. Viewpoint

   Franz Josef Glacier

   Glacier valley walks from the village

4. Town

   Fox Glacier

   Lake Matheson reflection walk nearby

5. Viewpoint

   Knights Point

   Lookout above the coast

6. Town

   Haast

   Last fuel before the pass

7. Viewpoint

   Haast Pass

   563 m crossing of the Southern Alps

8. Lake

   Lake Wānaka

   Long lake views from the road

9. Town

   Cromwell

   Fruit stalls and Lake Dunstan

10. Viewpoint

    Kawarau Gorge

    Winding gorge road before Queenstown

11. Finish

    Queenstown

Where to stay

• Night 1

  Franz Josef

  Franz Josef TOP 10 · DOC campsite

• Night 2

  Haast

  Haast Beach Holiday Park · motels

• Night 3

  Wānaka

  Wānaka Lakeview Holiday Park

When to go

Oct–Apr; heavy rain closes bridges and slips year round

On the road

Long gaps between fuel at Haast and Fox Glacier. Rain-related closures and one-lane bridges. Check NZTA West Coast updates.