Things To Do In Haast

Situated on the frontier of the UNESCO World Heritage Area, Haast township has a permanent population of 249 people and covers an area of 2500 square kilometres.

Haast

Best known for its scenic beauty and annual Whitebait Festival, both of which draw many visitors to the area, the Haast area comprises a number of smaller settlements.

Haast Junction

Haast Junction is located on the southwest bank of the Haast River, immediately south of the Haast Bridge, at the junction of State Highway 6 and the Haast–Jackson Bay Road. Here you will find a garage if you need to fuel up and the Heartland Hotel Haast if you are looking for overnight accommodation in Haast. The Department of Conservation operates a visitor centre just south of Haast Junction, offering a wide range of information about the Haast area.

Haast Beach

The smaller village of Haast Beach is on the coast of the Tasman Sea, 2 kilometres down the Haast–Jackson Bay Road. There you will find a postal service and a garage. 

Haast township

The larger Haast township is located 3 kilometres south of Haast Junction, on State Highway 6. Haast township has accommodation, a cafe, a tavern and a lovely clothing and gift shop. In the summer you will also find mobile food, look out for whitebait patties and venison steak burgers with awesome coffee at Otoko Expresso or if you are looking for something different look for Crêpe & Snow. This cute little black trailer produces authentic crêpes, french style and flavoured shaved ice which is delicious and refreshing on a hot summer day. If you are looking for Haast camping grounds, the town of Haast has a holiday park and there is a holiday park and motels between Haast town and the Haast Junction.

There are several things to do in Haast including:

• Fishing,

• Tramping and short nature walks,

• Jet boating,

• Helicopter flights,

• Birdwatching.

Neils Beach

Neils Beach is one of the safest swimming beaches in New Zealand, and in the summer months, you can swim there among the hector dolphins.

Jackson Bay

Jackson Bay is a natural harbour and home to Hector dolphins, Orca whales, penguins, seals and a multitude of fish and birdlife. The bay is home to a handful of commercial fishermen and you can walk out onto the wharf to talk to them or fish yourself. The Craypot is the perfect spot for a hot coffee and a stunning seafood meal with a view of the water.

There are magical walks in Jackson Bay, including some that are wheelchair accessible. At the very end of the road is the Wharekai Te Kou walk, a boardwalk that takes you through the native forest to the rugged West Coast ocean beach and rock pools with shellfish and seals (40 minutes return).

Take a walk along the beach to spot a piece of Pounamu (greenstone), which you can fossick for, below the high tide mark.

History of the Haast area

European settlement of the area dates back to the 1870s. At first, the area could only be accessed by seagoing vessels, with some rough tracks from the north and east. It was not until 1965 that the Haast Pass opened, providing access between the West Coast and Wanaka.

In 1990, the Haast area was included as part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, giving it international recognition as a location of significant natural value to Te Wahipounamou – The South West New Zealand World Heritage Area.

Visitors who venture off the beaten track will be enchanted by this area’s secluded beaches and remote river valleys.

Today, Haast’s main industries are sea fishing, hunting and tourism. From 1 September to 14 November every year, the population explodes to over 3,000 people during whitebait season.