Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Matheson, Gillespies Beach and the glaciers. Look for him parked up opposite Fox Gla-
cier Motors.
SOUTH TO HAAST
From Fox Glacier it's a 120km (two-hour) drive to Haast, along a scenic stretch of high-
way chopped through lowland forest and occasional pasture, with views inland to sheer-
sided valleys and intermittent but grand views seaward.
About 26km south of Fox Glacier, along SH6, is the
Copland Valley
trailhead, the
western end of the
Copland Track
. It's a six-to-seven-hour tramp to legendary
Welcome
Flat
where thermal springs bubble just metres from the door of DOC's
Welcome Flat
Hut
(adult/child $15/7.50)
. Unsurprisingly, the hut and its adjacent campsite are extremely
popular, with a warden in attendance, so both must be booked in advance either online or
in person at DOC visitor centres.
Lake Moeraki
, 31km north of Haast, is a rippling fishing lake. At its southern end is
one of NZ's best ecolodges,
Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki
( 03-750 0881;
www.wildernesslodge.co.nz
; SH6; d incl breakfast & dinner $700-1000; )
. SIn a verdant
setting on the edge of a river channel, it offers comfortable rooms and four-course din-
ners, but the real delight here are the outdoor activities, such as kayak trips and coastal
walks, guided by people with conservation in their blood.
About 5km south of Lake Moeraki is the much-photographed
Knights Point
, where
the Haast road was eventually opened in 1965. Stop here if humanly possible.
Ship Creek
, 15km north of Haast, is a terrific place to stretch the legs, boasting two
fascinating walks with interesting interpretive panels: the
Dune Lake Walk
(30 minutes
return), which is all sand dunes and stunted forest, leading to a surprising view, and the
unsurprisingly swampy
Kahikatea Swamp Forest Walk
(20 minutes return).
If you haven't had your fill of whitebait yet, call into the
Curly Tree Whitebait Com-
pany
( 10am-5pm)
, 10km north of Haast at the Waita River bridge. Exemplary white-
bait patties for $8, plus bait to go at the market price.
HAAST REGION
The Haast region is a major wilderness area. The area's kahikatea and rata forests, wet-
lands, sand dunes, seal and penguin colonies, birdlife and sweeping beaches ensured its
inclusion in the Southwest New Zealand (Te Wahipounamu) World Heritage Area.
