The Alpine Coach (Ph.0800 274 888) also services Highway 73 between Christchurch and Greymouth. Within the National Park the Mountain House Shuttle (Ph.03 318 9258) can provide transport to most track heads, or local skifields.
Road Access : From Greymouth, go south on Highway 6 to Kumara Junction. Turn east on Highway 73 and ascend to Otira then over the mountains to Arthur's Pass township. From Christchurch access is by Highway 73. WARNING : In late Autumn, Winter and Spring heavy snowfalls can temporarily close Highway 73 (carry chains) or make driving hazardous in the mountainous area.
ACCOMMODATION & SERVICES
Arthur's Pass township and environs provides most forms of accommodation, from camping sites to five star lodgings. Within the township both the Chalet B&B and the Alpine Motels provide comfortable private rooms, whilst the Mountain House and Y.H.A. can meet most of your budget accommodation needs. Many tramping and climbing clubs maintain lodges within the village (C.M.C, W.C.A.C, N.Z.A.C, C.T.C, Y.M.C.A), with accommodation being available to non-club members by arrangement. Limited camping is permitted adjacent the Public Shelter and at the Mountain House & Y.H.A. Camping is also available free at Klondyke Corner, Greyneys, Kellys Creek, Hawdon & Andrews Shelter.
A Public Bar exists at the Chalet, and there is a licenced Hotel at Bealey. Cafe, Groceries (white spirit, limited food supplies, etc), Petrol/Diesel, Post Office and Bottle Store facilites are all located in the Arthur’s Pass Tearooms. The Chalet and Oscar’s Haus provide cafe/dining services.
The Dept. of Conservation Visitor Centre can supply the latest information on weather conditions in the park, party movements, hut condition & accessibility, as well as providing advice, hut passes, maps and tracknotes etc.
Iceaxes, Crampons, Stoves, Maps, Day Packs, Sleeping Mats, Wet Weather Gear and Gaiters are available for hire (Ph. 03 318 9050).
CLIMATE & CONDITIONS
Weather in Arthur's Pass National Park is notorious for its unpredictability. At any time of year there can be long sessions of unsettled weather, usually accompanied with gusty north-westerly winds and high rainfall. Seasonally heavy rain usually falls during the months of October and November, this is known affectionately as the "monsoon." During this time most rivers can be very high or impassable.
Snow generally falls in the months of May through to September, with heavy falls being not uncommon down to 650 metres. Over a normal winter up to 35 metres of accumulative snow may fall on the various glacial névés (1800m+) and 5 metres of accumulative snow may fall in the village area. Snowfalls can lower to 1100 metres outside this season.
