Through the Gates of Haast

With the new batteries finally installed, it was time to hit the road again and start our journey to the West Coast.  There was time to say a final farewell to Lake Hawea at the lookout as we drove along the lake.  The reflections in the lake looked wonderful, and we were pleased that they photographed so well.  There was a posse of cyclists taking a breather on the hill road and they had their cameras out snapping away too.

  Lake Hawea from the lookout

The road took us up and over the gap and what’s that glinting in the sunshine?  Yes, another lake, but one we had seen before.  This was the northern tip of Lake Wanaka, and we stopped at another handy roadside lookout.  A plaque attached to a big boulder related how Lake Wanaka was scooped out by glacier action over a million years ago.  The 30 mile long lake is 1000ft deep, making the lake bed lower than sea level.

  Views of Lake Wanaka from lookout

The road took us higher into alpine beech forests as we entered Mt Aspiring National Park.  We had such a pretty drive as the dappled sun was trying to break through the intertwined tree cover over the road.   That’s Gypsy Rover on the road just ahead of us.

Driving through the beech forest

Haast Pass is the lowest crossing point over the Southern Alps at 563m.   We stopped at the top to check out the Haast Pass Monument, which has a plaque from the Historic Places Trust.  The pass was used by the Maori people as a greenstone trading route and Charles Cameron was the first European to cross in 1863.  Julius von Haast followed and named the pass after himself.  The monument honours those who planned and constructed the road which finally linked the provinces of Westland and Otago.

Haast Pass Monument

I had heard of the “Gates of Haast” bit wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  It is, in fact, a one way bridge over the Haast River. 

Despite the “no pedestrian” signs on the bridge, keen photographers just couldn’t help themselves and gingerly walked out to the middle of the bridge to photograph the river tumbling over huge rocks down below.  All the time keeping a careful eye out for traffic coming around the corner.

White water under the bridge

The Gates of Haast bridge

We saw a beautiful sight of a snow  covered peak glinting in the sun as we travelled down the other side of the pass.   Wonder what that particular mountain peak is called?

Snow covered mountain

We changed our mind against freedom camping and decided to continue on the Haast township to the Aspiring Court Motel and Camp.  We will stay one night before moving further up the West Coast tomorrow.

Romany Rambler and Le Petit Chateau parked up