Arthur's Pass, named after Arthur Dudley Dobson, who discovered it in 1865, connects Canterbury and Westland. Nestled in the Southern Alps on State Highway 73, the pass has become a destination in its own right, and Arthur's Pass village (pop. minuscule) has a growing range of modest accommodations. The area has several ski fields and many short walks; Arthur's Pass National Park is a favorite with trampers. If you like a dramatic landscape and weather conditions to match, this is the place for you.
