Arthur's Pass
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| Arthur's Pass | |
|---|---|
| — Township — | |
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| Coordinates: 42°56.72383′S 171°33.94056′E / 42.94539717°S 171.565676°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury |
| District | Selwyn |
| Founded | 1906 (originally named Bealey Flat) |
| Area | |
| - Total | 0.6 km2 (0.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 739 m (2,425 ft) |
| Population | |
| - Total | 54 |
Arthur's Pass is a township in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, located in the Selwyn district. It is a popular base for exploring Arthur's Pass National Park.
Arthur's Pass township is about 5 km south of the mountain pass with the same name. Its elevation is 740 metres above sea level surrounded by beech forest. The Bealey River runs through the township.
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[edit] Naming and History
The township and the pass are named after Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson (1841-1934). Arthur Dobson had been tasked by the Chief Surveyor, Thomas Cass, to find out if there was an available pass out of the Waimakariri watershed into valleys running to the West Coast. In 1864, his brother Edward joined him and accompanied him into the valley of the Otira River. Arthur had been informed of the presence of a pass which had been used occasionally by Māori hunting parties by a West Coast Māori Chief, Tarapuhi. When Arthur returned to Christchurch, he made a sketch of the country traversed and gave it with a report to Cass. Arthur Dobson did not name the pass, which he found to be very steep on the western side.
When the gold rush began, a committee of businessmen offered a £200 prize for anyone who would find a better or more suitable pass from Canterbury to the West Coast. At the same time, Edward Dobson (Arthur's father) was sent to examine every available pass between the watershed of the Taramakau, Waimakariri, and the Hurunui, and after examining passes at the head of every valley he reported that "Arthur's" pass was by far the most suitable for the direct crossing.[1]
[edit] Facilities and Attractions
The township has a DOC ranger station which also accommodates a visitor information and an informative display room. Visitor accommodation is provided, from camp ground up to hotel standard. The township provides a general store, a petrol station, tea rooms and restaurants.
There are also several good walks from here, including the Devils Punchbowl Falls[2], Bealey Valley[3] and Avalanche Peak[4]. The mischievous Kea (New Zealand mountain parrot) can be found here.
The club skifield Temple Basin is nearby and is a popular attraction through winter.
The town can be reached by train on the famous Midland Line. Arthur's Pass township was reached in 1914, while the Westland section having advanced to Otira. Construction of the Otira Tunnel had began in 1907, but progress was very slow. The tunnel was finally completed in 1923. State Highway 73 also passes through the town.
 Memorial at the mountain pass |
 Devil's Punchbowl Fall |
 Bealey River at Arthur's Pass |
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/dobson-brothers/1 Dobson brothers in the 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand
- ^ http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/canterbury/waimakariri-area/arthurs-pass-short-walking-tracks/ Short walking tracks on the DOC website
- ^ http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/canterbury/waimakariri-area/arthurs-pass-half-day-walks/ Half-day walks on the DOC website
- ^ http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/canterbury/waimakariri-area/arthurs-pass-day-walks/ Day walks on the DOC website
[edit] Bibliography
- Reed, A. W. (2002). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. Auckland: Reed Books. ISBN 0-7900-0761-4.
[edit] External links
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