En Route to the West Coast & the Glaciers
From Christchurch, take State Highway 73 through the magnificent landscape of Arthur's Pass National Park. In 2 hours, you'll get to the village of Arthur's Pass, your halfway point to the West Coast. You'll then pass over the new Otira Viaduct, which takes care of the worst and most dangerous part of the journey. Continue to proceed with caution, though, especially when it's snowing. From Otira, it's another 1 to 1 1/2 hours to Greymouth on the West Coast. If you're traveling straight down to Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, follow State Highway 6 all the way. You can expect the drive to the glaciers to take another 3 to 5 hours, depending on how often you stop.
