Parking
Start at Aickens car park beside SH73, about 5 km west of Otira. Finish at Windy Point shelter and car park beside SH7. This is a point-to-point route, so arrange a shuttle or pickup between the ends.
Overview
About Harper Pass Route
Why go
- A historic Māori pounamu route through an alpine pass
- Varied river valleys, beech forest, hot spring and Lake Sumner views
- A rewarding multi-day hut journey for experienced trampers
Heads up
- Several unbridged rivers can rise quickly
- Steep, rough terrain and remote multi-day travel
- One-way shuttle and hut logistics take planning
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Arthur's Pass map
Full mapElevation257–942 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
2 active Arthur's Pass alerts
- CautionFlood damage and rockfall risk on Harper Pass RouteMentions this trailFlood damage and an active slip affect the Harper Pass Route below Kiwi Hut and near Locke Stream Hut.Official details
- CautionFlood damage on route to Sudden Valley BivvySignificant flood damage makes the route to Sudden Valley Bivvy passable only when rivers are low.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Arthur's Pass Tour Guide
Your drive to Harper Pass Route, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Arthur's Pass National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this area
A Roroa Duet After Dark0:00 / 0:30
“After dark, a repeated, rising whistle may be a roroa, or great spotted kiwi. The male's call is high-pitched; the female answers with a lower, slower trill.”
Plays on the road 0.6 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Arthur's Pass Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Mountains Still on the Rise
- Why the Mountains Catch the Rain
- Morrison Footbridge to Pfeifer Bivvy
- The Taramakau Pounamu Route
- 42 audio storiesacross Arthur's Pass’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Kea, New Zealand Falcon, Blue Duck, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 49 trails, 59 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Harper Pass Route
A one-way crossingHarper Pass Route crosses from Aickens on SH73 to Windy Point off SH7.
Harper Pass Route crosses from Aickens on SH73 to Windy Point off SH7. The mapped line is about 49 miles (79 km) one way; allow four to five days and roughly 28 walking hours, with overnight stops. Arrange transport between the two ends.
Follow the TaramakauFrom Aickens car park, the route first crosses the Otira River, then follows the Taramakau…
From Aickens car park, the route first crosses the Otira River, then follows the Taramakau valley through river flats and beech forest toward Locke Stream Hut. Expect long, remote stretches between huts.
Climb to Harper PassThe climb from Locke Stream is steep and rough, rising through scrub and tussock to Harper Pass…
The climb from Locke Stream is steep and rough, rising through scrub and tussock to Harper Pass at about 962 m. Descend to the Hurunui headwaters and the small Harper Pass Bivvy shortly beyond the pass.
Cross the Hurunui countryThe eastern side is generally easier, but several river crossings remain.
The eastern side is generally easier, but several river crossings remain. Cameron Stream has an emergency walk-wire. The sulphurous hot spring above the Hurunui is easy to miss and requires a short climb from the valley.
Continue to Windy PointThe route passes a Lake Sumner viewpoint and crosses the open, often boggy Kiwi Valley to Hope…
The route passes a Lake Sumner viewpoint and crosses the open, often boggy Kiwi Valley to Hope Kiwi Lodge, then reaches Hope Halfway Hut. The final leg follows the Boyle River gorge and crosses a swing bridge before Windy Point.
Prepare for a remote tripThis is an advanced backcountry route with no food services.
This is an advanced backcountry route with no food services. Confirm booking or hut-ticket requirements for each overnight stop and carry supplies for several days. Dogs are not allowed.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Arthur's Pass
982 sightingsKeaMost seen around noonSighting map
39 sightingsNew Zealand FalconMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
190 sightingsBlue DuckMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
20 sightingsKākāMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
15 sightingsWekaMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
15 sightingsParadise ShelduckMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Arthur's Pass. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
