Driving Tours

En Route to Haast

Just 1 hour south of Fox Glacier (62km/38 miles) is The Salmon Farm Café, State Highway 6, South Westland (tel. 03/751-0837). The menu is predictably "fishy," with both fresh and smoked salmon dishes in abundance. It's open daily from 7am to 7pm, with shorter winter hours. It's a popular stop for tour buses so try to avoid the main lunch hour or you'll face a long queue.

Farther south, the magnificent vistas from the Knight's Point View Point are worth a stop to take in sandy coves, bush-clad hillsides, rocky headlands, and ocean views.

Haast itself is 121km (75 miles) south of Fox Glacier. The South Westland World Heritage Visitor Centre is at the junction of State Highway 6 and Jackson Bay Road (tel. 03/750-0809; fax 03/750-0832; haastvc@doc.govt.nz). The center has excellent exhibits on coastal highlights. It's open daily from 8:30am; mid-April to early November, until 4:30pm; early November to December 25 and February 7 to mid-April, until at 6pm; and December 26 to February 6, it closes at 7pm.

Back to Nature -- Nature-lovers will get a real thrill out of spending a few nights at Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki, 30km (19 miles) north of Haast (tel. 03/750-0881; www.wildernesslodge.co.nz), which has forged a solid international reputation in ecotourism. Rates range from NZ$750 to NZ$1,000 (US$532-US$710/£271-£361) and include accommodations, breakfast, dinner, use of lodge facilities, and daily guided nature trips. There are numerous outdoor activities available, from kayaking, walking, and fishing to seal- and bird-watching. The big attractions here are the nature activities and brand new rooms that opened in 2006.

En Route to Wanaka

The highway between Haast and Wanaka is magnificent, moss-covered, and often misty. It follows the course of the Haast River for much of the way. High peaks rise up on either side of the road. The route took 40 years to build and is 563m (1,847 ft.) above sea level. The Department of Conservation has created many walks along the way. Traveling nonstop, the trip to Wanaka should take 2 to 3 hours. Be prepared to make camera stops along the way of stunning waterfalls and river views.

En Route to Queenstown

Highway 6 is good traveling all the way to Wanaka. From there, the trip to Queenstown will take around 1 1/2 hours. You drive around the edge of Lake Dunstan, which was formed behind the Clyde Dam. Bypassing Cromwell township, you then travel through the stone fruit orchards of the Cromwell area. After passing through the Kawarau River Gorge, you come into Gibbston Valley and on into Queenstown.

If you're a competent driver, you could also go to Queenstown via the Crown Range. It's unsuitable for caravans and can be slippery and icy in winter, but the views from the top are stunning and it's 30 minutes shorter than State Highway 6.