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Story: Canterbury places

Arthur’s Pass

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Arthur’s Pass

Arthur’s Pass, a route across the Southern Alps between the headwaters of the Ōtira and Bealey rivers, has a rugged grandeur. Marking the boundary between Canterbury and Westland, it has been used as a route to the West Coast by both Māori and Europeans. The road replaced a track in 1866, giving access to the West Coast goldfields.

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How to cite this page

John Wilson, Canterbury places – Porters Pass to Arthur’s Pass, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10256/arthurs-pass (accessed 3 June 2026).

Story by John Wilson, published 2 March 2009, updated 17 August 2015.