At the south end of Arthur’s Pass Village, below a line of 1,800-meter tall peaks (Avalanche Peak, Lyell Peak, and Mount Bealey), you’ll find Arthur’s Pass Alpine Motel, which offers self-contained cabin accommodations for visitors to Arthur’s Pass National Park. Owners Pete and Fi Neale are welcoming to guests and happy to share their love of the area with tips on where to go and what to see.
EThe cozy cabin units accommodate one to five guests. In the main room of a cabin, you’ll find a queen bed, a couch, and a small dining table. A second bedroom has two single beds. All of the beds have electric blankets to keep guests warm at night. Some cabins also have gas fireplaces.
Each cabin has its own bathroom and kitchen. The kitchen is compact, but has just about everything you’d need: a small refrigerator, microwave, toaster, stovetop, pots, pans, dishes, glasses, silverware, and a sink (just no oven). Even through you came to Arthur’s Pass for outdoor recreation, you’ll be entertained indoors too; each cabin has a TV with a satellite receiver and FreeView channels, along with a DVD player (a selection of DVDs are available at reception). Arthur’s Pass Alpine Motel offers free wireless internet to guest.
All cabins are non-smoking and pets are not permitted (pets are also not allowed on hiking tracks throughout Arthur’s Pass National Park). Based on the season, the cabins are priced from $110-$150 for two people with a $15 charge for additional guests (all prices in New Zealand Dollars as of 2016). Visit the motel’s website for current rates or to check availability. You can also email book@apam.co.nz or call (64) 3 318-9233.
Arthur’s Pass Alpine Motel is on the edge of Arthur’s Pass Village and a short walk or drive from everything there is to do in town. Walking tracks begin from the village and there is also a market and a handful of restaurants and cafes.
Directions: From Sheffield (which is just over 50 kilometers west of Christchurch), take State Highway 73 northwest for 91.5 kilometers. The driveway for the motel is on the left as you come to the south end of Arthur’s Pass Village. From Greymouth, on the west coast, drive south on State Highway 6 for 17.5 kilometers to Kumara Junction. Turn inland on SH 73 and drive 78 kilometers southeast, passing through the center of Arthur’s Pass Village to find the motel.
Lodge address: 52 Main Road (State Highway 73), Arthur’s Pass Village, Canterbury, 7654, New Zealand
Lodge coordinates: -42.9462, 171.5657 (42° 56′ 47.33″S 171° 33′ 56.04″E )
Use the map below to view the motel and surrounding tracks:
Or view New Zealand tracks, campgrounds, and lodging in a larger map
Millennium Walk to Avalanche Creek Waterfall This 500-meter round trip walk goes from Arthur’s Pass National Park Visitor Centre to a bridge and viewpoint below a waterfall on Avalanche Creek as it approaches Arthur’s Pass Village. | |
Devils Punchbowl Falls This 2-kilometer round trip hike ascends to a viewing platform near the base of an impressive waterfall that should be a top priority for Arthur’s Pass National Park visitors. | |
Arthur’s Pass Village to Bridal Veil Falls Lookout This 1.8 kilometer round trip hike up Arthur’s Pass Walking Track takes a gradual approach to a viewpoint with a perspective of Bridal Veil Falls and surrounding mountains. | |
Jacks Hut to Bridal Veil Falls Lookout This 2.5-kilometer round trip hike on Arthur’s Pass Walking Track crosses beech forests and alpine shrublands, dropping across a canyon to arrive at a view of Bridal Veil Falls. | |
Bealey Chasm Walk This short walk passes through moss-covered beech trees to a bridge over Bealey River where it slips through a ravine. | |
Otira Valley Track This 3.8-kilometer round trip hike ventures up a valley on the north side of Arthur’s Pass, finding a footbridge over Otira River and broad views of surrounding mountains. | |
Old Coach Road Walk If you stay overnight at Greyneys Shelter Campground, start the day with this 1 to 1.4-kilometer loop that leaves the campground and travels through the surrounding forest along an old roadbed. | |
Kura Tawhiti / Castle Hill Conservation Area This 2 to 3-kilometer hike explores a fascinating jumble of limestone boulders close to Arthur’s Pass National Park. | |
More trails in New Zealand Explore other destinations for walking and hiking (as well camping and lodging) in New Zealand. |
Avalanche Creek Shelter Campground This 10-site campground in Arthur’s Pass Village has a large shelter and easy access to the park visitor center and nearby hiking tracks. | |
Greyneys Shelter Campground Camping is free around this small 3-wall stone shelter along State Highway 73 south of Arthur’s Pass Village. | |
Lake Pearson (Moana Rua) Campground This campground has about 20 sites along the shore of a peaceful lake between mountains in the Canterbury Region near Arthur’s Pass National Park. |