Westland - Otago Boundary on Haast Pass. South Is. New Zealand.
S 44° 06.448 E 169° 21.268
59G E 368308 N 5114874
The border of Westland and Otago districts is crossed as you drive over the Haast Pass, a mountain pass in the Southern Alps linking the rugged West Coast of the South Island to the beautiful Wanaka Lake district in Central Otago.
Waymark Code: WMJ3JV
Location: South Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 09/17/2013
Views: 5
The stone border marker stands on the roadside of the Haast Pass. A memorial here marks the summit of the pass and acknowledges the dedication of those who built the road.
The Haast Pass road, a sealed highway, follows an ancient trail used by Maori travelling to the West Coast in search of pounamu/greenstone. This low mountain pass route (1,842 ft) begins at sea level on the West Coast at Haast, and winds up the river valley to the Gates of Haast where it crosses a bridge and climbs up over the Pass through the Mount Aspiring National Park and onwards into Otago District.
Note: Please take care driving across this Alpine Pass in bad weather. Obey all road closure signs even if it involves a long drive back to another Pass. Slips are common in wet weather. Take extreme Care. (see photos from a newspaper article of Diana Falls Slip).
WARNING: 6th Oct 2013. The road has been closed after heavy rain began falling in the area, mobilising the slip at Diana Falls and bringing more rock and gravel down on to highway.
The NZ Transport Agency's Performance Manager Pete Connors says the heavy rain in the area has stopped and contractors have been back on site since first light this morning clearing the road and checking the slip ready for a 10am opening.
Access through the area is single-lane and the highway will continue to be closed each night at 6pm and re-open at 8am as a safety precaution.
****The Border Crossing plaque can be reached from the Wanaka, Otago, end of Haast Pass without traveling across the slip area. You can then return to Wanaka to avoid the works area which is at Diana Falls, near the Gates of Haast.
Type Of Crossing: County (in applicable countries)
Where is the border located?: Highway
Welcome Center/Facilities: No
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