Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → New Zealand → West Coast → Jackson Bay

Location: south of Haast, West Coast, New Zealand

Time Required: 1 hour (plus the 30 minute drive each way from Haast)

Red Tape/Notes: Make sure you have gas and aren’t about to starve if you’re going during a questionable time (holidays, Sundays, etc). There’s not much by way of traveler facilities down here.

What’s Nearby?: Haast Pass, Fox Glacier

We stopped in Haast for the night on our way back from Fox Glacier and drove the 30 minutes south to Jackson Bay for sunset (this was the third and final time we almost ran out of gas…the drive back to our Bed and Breakfast was rather stressful, but it was totally worth it). Jackson Bay is the literal end of the road – the impenetrable Southern Alps lie to the south, separating Jackson Bay from Milford Sound – and few people stop here. I think this probably makes the residents happy. This is a legitimate fishing village, facing the Tasman Sea to the north, and the most notable feature in town is the long wharf stretching into deep sea, watched over by snow-capped mountains. There’s not much else to see here – just beautiful scenery, isolation, and a really good fish and chip caravan (The Cray Pot) – all things that we love. At sunset, the pink and orange glow lights up the mountain peaks, creating a magical scene that makes you understand why the residents want to keep this place a secret.

Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → New Zealand → West Coast → Jackson Bay