photography

new Zealand South Island Road Trip 2025 – Waterfalls of Haast Pass

| flynny101

We’ve seen some amazing thing so far and the next adventure was one I was looking forward to.

We opted for a super early wake up at Bruce Bay and made our way down to Haast for breakfast and coffee. Today we would be driving the Haast Pass, in an of itself a great scenic drive but we were leaving ourselves plenty of time for exploring.

Haast Pass is home to some of the most popular canyons in New Zealand. It would be too cold to descend them this time but with the constrictions often ending in stunning waterfalls just off the road we planned to take most of the day exploring them.

Some of the waterfalls are sign posted tourist attractions, others you just need to keep an eye on the bridge names and find a place to park. We had several picked out that we wanted to check out but there were plenty more.

Note: The Haast river is known to have Didymo, an invasive fresh water algae also known as Rock Snot, so if you enter the river bed or water it’s important to Check Clean Dry shoes and gear before entering another waterway or traveling.

Anyhoo our first stop.

Depot Creek

A camping area on the right just after the bridge made a good spot to park and a trail headed off leading upstream. Less then 5min later we came to the 10m tiered Depot Creek Falls.

Click to see the full photos

Imp Grotto

When I say the canyons open with a waterfall near the road, Imp Grotto finishes right under the bridge. We had to park a little up the road and walk back but it’s a cool spot

Roaring Billy

Not far up the road Roaring Billy falls is a signposted tourist stop. A dedicated parking area gives access to a trail that takes you down to the Haast river for views across to Roaring Billy falls, it’s around a 30min round trip with a bit of time taking photos. Thou the mountain mist made getting a decent shot hard today

Douglas Falls

Another small waterfall right by the road

Thunder Falls

Thunder falls is signposted with a constructed tourist walk down to the stunning 30m waterfall

Pyke Creek

This one was a little harder to get to. Being directly fed from the Brewster Glacier the water is even colder. Kylie decided to sit this one out. I carefully made my way up stream on a rough track that at times traversed narrow ledges. Im handy in the outdoors and a good scrambler with a head for heights but this was at the limit of what I was willing to brave on my own in unfamiliar terrain so take care.

In summer you might be able to work your way up the creek itself but I’d imagine with ice melt the water flow would be treacherous as the canyon descent has rarely been repeated.

Fantail Falls

Another signposted waterfall with dedicated car park and walking track to views across the river towards the falls.

Robinson Creek

One of the more popular canyons in the area for which the bottom chamber is easy to get to

Wilsons Creek

The show case canyon in the area, Wilsons creek is spectacular and if you are willing to brave cold water and wet feet you can visit the last little bit just in off the road.

Other waterfalls within 5min walk of the road or visible from the road that we didn’t visit this time around include

  • Orman Falls (10m high)
  • Joes Creek Falls (150m High)
  • Gunboat Falls (150m High)
  • Diana Falls (15m High)

We decide if possible we’d spend a night at a van park to get a descent shower and stuff. A quick google search revealed Mt Aspiring Holiday Park to be cheap as chips and referenced something about a hot hub.

Calling ahead the lovely Erin assured me they had plenty of spots and if we could get there by 6:30 we could book the last allocation for the hottub.

How mush is it said /i

$10 each for 25 minutes. Says she

Book us in said I.

We got there around 5 and Erin informs me she’d given us their best non-powered site. She wasn’t wrong, close the kitchen and amenities while not too close but better it gave an amazing view out the back of the van to the snow capped mountains reflected off the lake.

No only that but she also said no one had booked the 6pm spa spot and she was keen to leave early so if we wanted to pick up the key to the spa at 6 it was ours for the night, just put the key in the safe when we finished. Winning.

But wait, there’s more!

Um, I saw a sign for a drying room how much is it to use that?

What gear do you have?

Just some old boots, we were in the Haast and have done the check and clean and gave them a good scrub but it would be good to get them dry.

Oh yeah of course, no charge. Leave them outside the door and when I get a chance I’ll pop over turn the heating on and put them in for you.

I like Erin.

So that’s an unpowered van site, pretty much unlimited use of the hot tub (TBH we were tired and hungry so only took the 30mins anyway but still.) and they turned the ski gear drying room on all night just for us for a grand total of $68NZ.

We do a nice diner in the kitchen, get a good night sleep and then head to the Clay Cliffs of Omarama

New Zealand South Island road trip 2025 – Bruce bay

| flynny101

On a massive high from Franz Josef Glacier we take a tip from Maya and head for Bruce Bay to find a camp for the night.

Maya explained not only was it a great freedom camp but in local Maori legend, Bruce Bay was where the semi mythical Māui first landed in New Zealand.

To gain land Māui had to kill the two Taniwah that guarded the bay. The name of the headland at the western end of the bay, Heretaniwha means “to tie up the monster”).

Archaeological evidence points to human occupation back to the 14th century and mind boggling in modern times Maya’s family farm has been there from the start….

Anyhoo it was a great spot to finally catch a west coast sunset.

And with the sunset the clouds dispersed and I took the opportunity of dark sky and milky ways.

But we didn’t stay up too late as we wanted an early start the next day to explore the waterfalls of Haast Pass.

New Zealand Road Trip 2025 – Franz Josef Glacier

| flynny101

From Hokitika it was an early start to drive down for our next adventure.

When planning our itinerary Kylie had mentioned a walk up towards the base of a glacier she had previously done and loved and while we had been trying to keep it a low cost holiday we had also been tossing up splurging on helicopter tour.

I remembered my old mate and mentor, Rusty (RIP) having done a heli/hike tour onto a glacier and raving about it.

If we do the helicopter I’d love a snow or glacier landing, Say I.

That’s a great idea Kylie replies.

We begin looking into options trying to decide what would fit our wants and itinerary. Franz Josef Glacier Guides started looming large as the front runner.

This is the one part of our holiday where we decided to dam the expense and splash a bit of cash on. IMO it was worth every cent.

Just driving into town is mind-blowing as we get our first close encounter with the snowcapped peaks while walking down streets lined with giant fern trees.

While FJGG supply all the outer layers to keep their clients warm they were more than happy for us to use our own gear (after confirming that it was suitable).

Our guide, Maya, was informative, funny and chill as she took us through the safety talk. That’s worst case, says she. It won’t happen today… I hope. Na, it won’t happen.

Suitably prepared we leave town via a lovely walk through the rain forest to the helipad. The group would be split into 2. And our group were first up with Maya joining us and our chopper pilot Matt giving great commentary along the way.

We had been assigned seating and Kylie had jagged a front seat, allowing her to capture some amazing videos.

Even with Matt’s commentary it was hard to come to grips with the scale of this place. It wasn’t until we were down and looking back to the following helicopter that was just a tiny speck against the mountainous back drop that it started sinking in.

Once both groups were on the ice Maya guided us on a 2.5hr loop around the glacier with lots of facts, anecdotes, and Maori legends thrown in.

Kylie was in her element, engaging in her specialities of climate science, glacial processes, and paleo-river systems. Her smile was beaming and her eyes sparkling.

It was a great experience and I’d highly recommend it.

We had jagged a perfect bluebird day. Summer is their peak season but a clear winter’s day is the perfect time to visit.

Anyhoo, we took about a thousand photos between us. Here are some of my favourite ones of mine.

Click to expand

Canyon anyone?
We are standing on a glacier looking at a beach!!!
Standing on a Glacier looking at a sunset over a beach!!!

Would 100% do it again

And on an absolute high from this we cruise down to Bruce Bay for camp

Exploring Glaciers at Lunch followed by sunsets on the beach for diner.

It was a bit surreal

New Zealand South Island Road trip 2025- Hokitika Sunset point and glowworms

| flynny101

From Hokitika Gorge we slip back into town and head to Sunset point for diner in the van.

I’d never seen the sunset over the ocean before, Unfortunately the cloud cover closed in an all but blocked it out.

Not to be discouraged I thought I’d try my hand at some more arty farty photos at the memorial and art works.

Driving into town I’d spotted a sign post for glowworms.

I know we had just done the most amazing cave tour but I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I will never not be awestruck by glowworms.

Lucky Kylie shares my fascination with the little shiny slugs with their little glowy bums.

If a cave tour sounds a bit too strenuous or clautrophobic for you I have some good news.

The Hokitika Glowworm dell is literally (Literally babes) 50m off the main highway in a shady, fern filled gully. A concrete path leads you in.

Tip: either use a red light (even a bit of coloured cellophane or contact over your torch) or hold onto the hand rails turn your torch off and let your eyes adjust.

From here it was on to a highlight in a long list of highlights from this trip Franz Josef Glacier