NZ: Lake Hāwea to Franz Josef

· campsite · exploring · food · GIF · map · RV · travel · New Zealand 2025

We traveled from Lake Hāwea to Franz Josef over Haast Pass.

Here’s an interactive map of our route, with some of the stops marked:

Lake Hāwea:

Lake Hāwea
Lake Hāwea

One lane bridge:

One lane bridge

Thunder Creek Falls:

Thunder Creek Falls
Thunder Creek Falls
Thunder Creek Falls

Mountains:

Mountains

Another one lane bridge:

One lane bridge

Snowy mountain:

Snowy mountain
Snowy mountain

Spiker Cafe in Haast for lunch:

Spiker Cafe for lunch
Spiker Cafe for lunch
Spiker Cafe for lunch

"Two Passing Bays Ahead":

Two Passing Bays Ahead
Long one-lane bridge with passing bays

A stop at Ship Creek:

Ship Creek
Ship Creek beach

Some interesting rocks on the beach:

Ship Creek rock
Ship Creek rock

A dolphin:

Ship Creek beach
Ship Creek

Knight's Point lookout:

Knight's Point lookout

Monument celebrating the highway connecting Westland with Otago:

Monument celebrating the highway connecting Westland with Otago

Flax:

Flax

Snowy mountains:

Snowy mountains

Another long one lane bridge:

Another one lane bridge

Maori Beach:

Maori Beach

Yet another long one lane bridge:

Another long one lane bridge
One lane bridge

Snowy mountains:

Snowy mountains

Arriving at Orange Sheep Campervan Park:

Orange Sheep Campervan Park
Orange Sheep Campervan Park

Our site:

Our site