Arthur's Pass

Description

NameArthur's PassDescriptionArthur’s Pass is an alpine village nestled in the Southern Alps (Kā Tiritiri-o-te-Moana). The village was established as a resting place for horse-drawn coaches before they tackled Otira Gorge on the journey to the West Coast goldfields. It was named after explorer Arthur Dobson who was tasked with finding a direct route to the West Coast. The quest for a road over the pass became a matter of urgency after gold was discovered on the West Coast in 1865.
At the turn of the century the population of Arthur’s Pass grew to include the tunnellers who drilled the 8km Otira Tunnel. The tunnel was cut through the main divide and completed the rail link between the east and west coasts of the South Island in 1923. Canterbury people eventually took over the tunnellers’ cottages as holiday homes, Arthur’s Pass Village is still closely associated with the railway. The TranzAlpine train from Christchurch stops here on its journeys west and east. The village is a gateway to many walks in the Arthur's Pass National Park, including the spectacular Devils Punchbowl waterfall. Geolocation^[1]

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