Haast is a small township situated on the western end of the Haast Pass.
It was originally formed as a Ministry of Works road construction camp but the opening of the Haast Pass in 1962 made the region more accessible and people moved there to set up homes and businesses.
Haast will be the first location on the Te Ara Pounamu pathway, a collaborative partnership between Te runanga o Poutini, local Councils, Development West Coast, Provincial Growth Fund and the Department of Conservation. Each of the four locations will tell the stories of the region, anchored by early Maori history, brought to life by Weta Workshop and Cerebral FX.
A large Department of Conservation Visitor Information Centre located in the town informs the thousands of visitors who pass through of the wide range of activities available in the area. These range from jet boating, helicopter flights, hunting, fishing, glaciers, fantastic bushwalks and other eco tourism activities.
Quality accommodation and catering is available at the hotels and motels as well as the many farms and home stays offering services.
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