Haast Township is located on the wild
West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand . It is
spread amongst three small localities, Haast township, Haast
Beach and Haast Junction. Arriving at Haast, you are surrounded by a landscape of rainforest, wetlands,
sand dunes and surf-pounded shingle beaches. This wilderness
forms part of the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area,
so designated because South Westland and Fiordland have some
of the most dramatic forest and mountain scenery and natural
resources in the world.
Haast is a bird watcher’s paradise,
with fantail, tui, bellbird, pigeon, silvereye, grey warbler,
parakeet, falcon, kaka, kiwi and morepork all located in the
abundant lowland forests. Other wildlife include the fur seal,
blue penguin and the Fiordland crested penguin. Haast’s
main activity attractions are outdoors including guided nature
tours, helicopter flights, jet boat rides, fishing, river
safaris and much more.
The surrounding area has some well-developed
walks including the Hapuka Estuary Walk, and the Ship Creek
Walk, starting half way along the road to Lake Moeraki. These
walks and others cross the wild Haast coastal plain, where
complex dune systems shelter tiny lakes and many fine stands
of kahikatea, New Zealand’s tallest tree.
The coastal plain continues for some 50 km
south to the remote fishing village of Jackson Bay, where
the long West Coast Road finally ends. There you will find
the incredible Red Hills and Cascade River valley which is
one of the remotest places on the New Zealand roading system
and has the distinction of having a higher population of fur
seals and penguins, than of humans.
There is a timeless, spiritual quality to
South Westland. The booming Tasman Sea, deserted beaches,
dense lowland rainforest and forbidding mountains make Haast
hauntingly beautiful to all. |
