At the Otira Viaduct Lookout, Arthurs Pass NP: 18 September 2022

 A enviable view on the route over Arthur's Pass

I was up in Arthurs Pass NP last weekend walking the Arthurs Pass Walking Track (post to follow). after walking the track I drove back up to the Deaths corner Lookout to have a look at the Otira Viaduct. I was last here in May when Karen and I were on our way to Punakaiki for a long weekend here is the post about that trip.

The Otira Valley from the Lookout at Death's corner

The Otira Viaduct is an awesome piece of engineering and when it was completed in 1999 it was one of the most difficult construction jobs under taken in New Zealand up to that time. The builders had to contend with extreme weather, isolation, difficult terrain and some serious engineering problems but the project was finished on time and under budget. 

The Otira Viaduct is 440 meters long

It is an inspiring site from the Lookout which is an old section of SH 73 which used to snake up and over the huge shingle scree face coming down off Hills Peak and Mt Stuart. It is the ideal location for a lookout as it has clear unobstructed views down onto most of the Viaduct. 

Looking up to Hills Peak (1645) from the Viaduct Lookout

Waterfall on the southern side of the Otira Valley

Anyone traveling from the east coast to the west coast on SH73 drives over the Viaduct so it is really impossible to miss. You drive past the turn off to the Deaths Corner Lookout so it is very simple thing to stop for a few moments to check out the view. 

View back to Arthurs Pass from the Viaduct Lookout

View to Mt Barron (1730) from the Viaduct Lookout

Once the Viaduct was completed there was no need for the old road so the approaches on the Arthur's Pass side were turned into a magnificent lookout point. There is a sign posted turn off at the old Deaths Corner with views right down the Otira River Valley. You can see about four kilometers down the valley from here with high mountains closely following the route of the Otira River.

The Viaduct is up to 35 meters above the Otira Valley floor

Before the Viaduct any trip over this pass was always a sphincter clenching experience...it was winding, narrow and heinously steep. Many was the older English car that cooked an engine climbing the switchback road from Candy's Corner to Arthurs Pass.

...steep drop off to the floor of the Otira Valley...

V shaped buttresses protect the Viaduct support columns

There are two fine fenced off lookouts here and both have good views down to the viaduct, Otira River and down the Otira Valley. In fine weather or rain they provide magnificent views of this rugged section of the park. 

A word of caution though...do not cross the fences...there are significant drops from the lookout and a fall from here would not be good for your health. 

SH73 is the road over Arthur's Pass

The Viaduct was opened in 1999 by the PM of the day

You can back up to Arthurs Pass from the lookout as it is only about 2 kilometers up to the head of the Pass. You could walk to the Lookout from Arthurs Pass using the Arthurs Pass Walking Track but you would on the road shoulder from the Pass to the Lookout and I cannot really recommend this on such a narrow and very busy road. 

The access road is an old section of SH73

It is interesting sitting up near the Lookout and watching the cars, trucks and Campervans coming up the Viaduct. The gradient is not that bad but it still looks painful...

A series of vehicles climbing up the Otira Viaduct

The lookout is awesome in fine or wet weather and in fact it is interesting to visit in both conditions. The view is much curtailed in bad weather as the valley below often fills with cloud. You are sitting just about 1100 meters here so it is hardly surprising that the weather is dim a lot of the time. 

Rainy day view of the Otira Viaduct

SH73 is a very busy route from west to east

The Otira Viaduct has received many accolades and awards and has secured access across this formally difficult section of the highway. 

Higher water level in the Otira River after rain

Snow blankets the scree slope on Hills Peak

View from the lower lookout platform at Deaths Corner

Winter view to Arthurs Pass from Deaths Corner Lookout

 If you are lucky you will be entertained by the antics of Kea who live in the local area. There used to be big mobs of them here but the most I have seen here recently at one time would be about 3-5. That is the name for a group of Kea...a Mob. Very apt as they will happily dismantle your car/boat/motor bike if you leave them unattended for too long. They act like a bunch of teenage boys most of the time...

Kea live in the local area around the Lookout

Silver Surfer at Otira Viaduct Lookout in winter

I recommend you stop and check out the view for yourself the next time you pass this way. It is an interesting viewpoint and worthy of your attention. 

Access: The Otira Viaduct is on SH73 between Arthurs Pass Village and Otira. The Lookout is roughly two kilometers west of Arthurs Pass itself and is clearly signposted from both directions. There is space here for about 6-7 cars.

You Tube: Otira Viaduct Lookout

Otira Viaduct Lookout...AKA Death Corner

An engineering marvel...the Otira Viaduct

There is a marvel of engineering technology located right in the heart of one of our National Parks. It is the Otira Viaduct which passes high over the Otira River Valley on State Highway 73 between Arthurs Pass Village and Otira.

The Otira Viaduct in Arthurs Pass NP

Over 440 meters long (1440 feet) and 45 meters high it crosses an area of unstable land and was one of the largest and most expensive local engineering projects of the early 1990's.

A potted history of the Otira-Arthurs Pass Highway:

The road over Arthurs Pass to Otira has always been problematic...it is a high alpine area with massive rainfall events, steep difficult terrain and frequent and large earthquakes. This has made maintaining the route over the pass very difficult to achieve.

Map: Otira Viaduct...dotted line was the old road...now a tramping track

One particular problem was always the massive gravel slips just over the pass and coming down off Hills Peak/Mt Stuart between Pegleg Point and Candy's Corner. This is an active scree slope which frequently slipped over the road every time there was a major storm or a large earthquake. The transport authorities spent many millions each year keeping this section clear.

A trip over this road section was always a sphincter clenching experience...it was winding, narrow and heinously steep. Many was the older English car that cooked an engine climbing the switchback road. 

Hills Peak and Mt Stuart dominate the area around the Viaduct

SH73 winds over Arthurs Pass into the Otira River Valley

By the mid 1980's the authorities had enough and tendered a project to build a permanent solution to this tricky roadway. The winning tender was for a massive elevated viaduct from near Deaths Corner to a point further down the Valley. This would cut out the whole problematic section of the existing road and make maintenance of this vital transport route easier and more secure. 

Silver Surfer at the Otira Viaduct carpark

The project took over 6 years to complete and cost nearly $2 billion dollars but was ultimately successful. It featured many new techniques not previously used in New Zealand and provided a blueprint for similar projects right around the country. 

View down the Otira River Valley from the lookout

The scree slopes coming off Hills Peak/Mt Stuart, Arthurs Pass NP

The builders had to contend with brutal conditions especially during the harsh winters which stretched the project out past its intended finishing date. The population of both Arthurs Pass and Otira swelled with the workers constructing the viaduct as they were the closest places they could be housed. After many years of hard work they finished the viaduct in 1999 and it opened to general use. 

You can see how rough the Otira river Valley is...

The Otira Viaduct has received many accolades and awards and has secured access across this formally difficult section of the highway. 

A great viewpoint...

Once the viaduct was completed there was no need for the old road so the approaches on the Arthur's Pass side were turned into a magnificent lookout point. There is a sign posted turn off at the old Deaths Corner with views right down the Otira River Valley. From the lookout you have an unobstructed view of the Otira Viaduct. 

Closer view of the Otira Viaduct

There are two fine fenced off lookouts here and both have good views down to the viaduct, Otira River and down the Otira Valley. In fine weather or rain they provide magnificent views of this rugged section of the park. 

A word of caution though...do not cross the fences...there are significant drops from the lookout and a fall from here would not be good for your health. 

Silver Surfer at the Otira Viaduct on a rainy day

Mist cloaks the mountains above the Otira River Valley

The lookout is awesome in fine or wet weather and if you are lucky you will be entertained by the antics of Kea who live in the local area. They will happily dismantle your car/boat/motor bike if you leave them unattended for too long. 

Native Kea at the Otira Viaduct Lookout

It was a marvel of engineering when it was built and it is still one of the most difficult and expensive road projects in New Zealand history. Don't pass it by on your next trip over Arthurs Pass but stop and have a gander.

Access: The Otira Viaduct is on SH73 between Arthurs Pass Village and Otira. The Lookout is roughly two kilometers west of Arthurs Pass itself and is clearly signposted from both directions. There is space here for about 6-7 cars.

You Tube: Otira Viaduct Lookout

Arthur"s Pass Base Weekend: Otira Valley, 3rd January 2020

 A return to the Otira Valley, Arthur's Pass NP...

Karen and I spent a couple of days in Arthur's Pass National Park in early January and while there we went for a number of short walks in the area. We had some good weather for a change...it was cool but at least it didn't hose with rain like the last two times we have come up here. 

DOC sign at the start of the Otira Valley Track

One of the trips we did was up the Otira Valley to the footbridge half way to the head cirque...the last time I was up here was back in 2016 and I wanted to show Karen what a nice valley it is. It is sub alpine and alpine terrain up here...rocks, water and flora suited to the climate. 

Otira Valley Track: a scree slide about half way to the bridge

The Otira Valley Track is great in the summer but incredibly dangerous in the Autumn/Winter/Spring as it is flanked on both sides by +1900 meter high ridges. They accumulate a lot of snow and are prone to sudden and devastating avalanches. This makes the Otira Valley a no go zone for the colder snowy months of the year.

The western flank of Mt Rolleston from near the Otira Valley bridge

This is a must do for any slightly adventurous visitor to the park and you are assured of a good work out if you head up the valley. Anyway...lets see what the track looks like...

Tramping to the Otira Valley bridge

The track starts on the left side of SH 73 just past the Arthur Dobson Memorial on the top of Arthur's Pass. It is signposted and has space for about 6-7 cars. The first kilometer is a moderately step climb and it starts right from the first step.

Otira Valley Track: start of the track at SH 73

Side track to the Lake Misery Track from Otira Valley

Karen admires the sub alpine flora on the Otira Valley Track

The track quality is good to start with and then becomes a bit rocky and eroded up the track. The day was overcast and cool but we had on rain or overly strong wind so really it was good conditions for a stroll up the valley. 

The views up and back down the valley get better the higher you climb...and the encompassing ridges and high peaks emphasize how minuscule you are in the greater scheme of things...

Otira Valley Track: view back down to SH73 after the initial climb...

Starting to sidle along the side of  Goldney Ridge

We were visiting past the best time of the year to see the alpine flowers but there were still a lot of mountain daisies and other flower around. We have had a late and cool summer this year so it has knocked the cycles of the plants around a bit.

There are not a lot of trees up this valley but the herbs, shrubs and  multi colored alpine plants make for an interesting backdrop. You often see Chamois and Thar up this valley as they love to eat these succulent alpine plants...sadly we saw no such beasts on this trip.

Mountain daisies along the Otira Valley Track

This valley was shaped by the Rolleston Glacier and by the Otira River....if you were here 20 000 years ago the whole valley would have been filled with an ice sheet that stretched out past the Taramakau Valley 20 odd kilometers further west. That is why the valley is so steep sided...the ice carved the sides clean and it takes a long time to erode. 

Once the ice melted the river got to work gradually pushing gravel down the river bed...an action that continues to this day.

Karen negotiates a rock outcrop...Otira Valley Track

Otira Valley Track: view towards the Mt Temple area

We passed several areas of mountain daisies they are most prevalent in the mid reaches of the Otira Valley as they have an altitude and climate range where they grow. They add a nice touch of color to the usual greens, browns and oranges of the alpine plants. 

More mountain daisies in the Otira Valley

Sub alpine flora and flowers along the Otira Valley Track

There are many different rock forms up this valley and the colors of these range from grey to brown, orange and range from small pebbles to huge chunks of rock the size of a multi story house. 

Karen crosses the scree slide mid way to Otira Valley bridge

Looking down on the infant Otira river, Otira Valley Track

The other thing you have in the valley is water...there is water everywhere with waterfalls, seeps, creeks, streams and the Otira River itself. If you walk up here on a calm day the sound you will hear is water dripping, falling and flowing. It makes an excellent back-drop to your tramping journey...

Water seep along the Otira Valley Track

Small side stream on the Otira Valley Track

Waterfalls coming off Goldney ridge, Otira Valley 

Another stream crossing the Otira Valley Track

It take from one to one and a half hours to reach the bridge over the Otira River...this is the end of the marked track. From this point onward you require outdoor navigation skills as you make your own way up valley to the head cirque another hour away. 

Arrival at the bridge on the Otira Valley Track

Cascades in the upper reaches of the Otira River, Otira Valley 

End of the road...the Otira Valley bridge

We were pleased to reach the bridge and were looking forward to lunch, a drink and a sit down. 

Lunch at the Otira Valley footbridge

We had decided beforehand to only walk as far as the Otira Valley bridge as it was due to rain later that afternoon. The area around the bridge is an excellent spot to stop out of the wind for a break or lunch so we found a cosy position and settled down to eat. 

Precariously balanced bridge on the Otira Valley Track

The water up here is OK for human consumption if you end to refill..personally I would still treat it as there are isolated cases of Giardia etc. in the park all the time. It is the people...Arthur's Pass is very popular so there are always crowds of people around and where you have crowds you have problems. 

A bloody freezing cold pool near the Otira Valley bridge

View down the Otira Valley from near the foot bridge

If you come up here in autumn or late spring this is the absolute furthest you should go...you are relatively safe up to this point but past the bridge you are in danger from rock/ice/snow falls off the side of the very unstable Mt Philistine. Even in summer you must exercise extreme caution as even a summer snow fall (they happen from time to time) is a candidate for an avalanche. 

Preparing to cross the Otira Valley bridge...

Waterfall coming down from Goldney Ridge, Otira Valley

Looking back on the Otira Valley bridge from the true left bank

Karen and I crossed over the bridge after lunch to takes some photos...there are good vistas up to the western side of Mt Rolleston and also down the valley you have just walked up. 

Goldney Ridge is avalanche prone in winter...

Some sub alpine plants growing near the Otira Valley bridge

The Otira Valley bridge is a rickety affair..it is stable enough but the only thing holding it between the two boulders it sits on are a couple of cables and a couple of bolts. There used to be a more sturdy metal bridge up here but it got damaged beyond repair in a massive storm and was never replaced. 

Take care when crossing as a fall off the bridge would not be the making of your day...

A nice setting around the Otira Valey bridge

The Otira Valley bridge is balanced between two large boulders...

The flank of Mt Philistine as a backdrop to the Otira Valley bridge

Simple wooden construction of the Otira Valley bridge

We could see parts of Mt Rolleston from the talus field on the true left of the Otira Valley...there was still some snow on this side of the mountain even this late in the year. The snow was all orange as are snowfields on most mountains in the South Island as ash from the huge Australian bush-fires have dusted the snow.

If ever you needed a sign of the inter connected nature of the Earth the smoke filled skies, smell of wood smoke and ash from fires over 3000 kilometers away are a real portent. This is what climate change is going to look like as we go deeper into the 21st Century. 

Jon on the talus slope on the true left of the Otira Valley bridge

View up valley towards the Rolleston cirque, Otira Valley

Orange tinge to snow on Mt Rolleston, Otira Valley 

...lots of loose Weetbix rock on the ridges of Mt Philistine...don't squot Jon like a pompkin!!!

 If you are going up here bring a cooker and have a brew...it would be an excellent spot for a bit of outdoor tea making. I wish we had thought to bring one with us...my light cooker and Ti pot are very light so it would not have been a burden. 

A hansom waterfall just behind the Otira Valley bridge

View down the Otira Valley from near the Otira Valley bridge

 We spent about 20 minutes around the bridge and then packed up our gear ready for the walk back down the valley.

Heading back down to the Otira Valley car park

We set off back down the valley to the car park just past 1 pm...it is a little quicker to walk down the valley than up so I estimated it would take about an hour. This turned out to be just about correct as we got to the car around 2.15. 

Otira Valley Track sidles along the right side of the Otira Valeley

We made good progress down the track and passed quite a few people who were heading up valley. Personally I would plan to visit earlier in the day so as not to become be-nighted in the Otira Valley...even with a head lamp this track would be a good candidate for falling and breaking your leg etc. tripping over a rock. 

Exposed rock where the Otira Valley Track has eroded

As you head back towards the highway you have some spectacular views of the mountain ranges on the far side of SH73. There are tracks to many of these peaks mostly sidling along the sides of the ranges from the Temple Basin skifield. 

Pt1820 and Phipps Peak from the Otira Valley

Jon on the scree slope mid way down the Otira Valley 

I intend to walk up to Temple Basin again some time in the near future as I am walking tracks in Arthur's Pass for my other blog Arthur's Pass Adventures. Eventually I hope to walk all the tracks in the National Park but I am aware I am getting older every year so we will have to see...

Temple Basin skifield from the Otira Valley

Temple Basin skifield from the Otira Valley

Jon is stroking a bloody great chunk of rock that had rolled down the side of the ridge leaving big gouges as it rolled. It does make you think.......

Jon loves to stroke the rock....Otira Valley

Good close up of the Mountain Daisies in the Otira Valley

After 45 minutes you get to a spot where you ca look down onto SH 73 and the car-park at the start of the track once more. I was pleased to see the car was still there...I dont think i would leave my car there overnight as it would draw the unwanted attentions of the scumbag vandals who regularly break into cars along this highway. 

It is perfectly fine for a day walk as there is a lot of traffic dissuading them from villainy.

SH 73 and Pegleg Valley from the Otira Valley Track

...its big country at the head of the Otira Gorge...

The last kilometer down to the car park is moderately steep and rocky so just take some care when walking along he track. If I am going to hurt myself it usually happens over the last kilometer when i am tired and not paying attention. 

Case in point...I fell over 100 meters away from Whariwharangi Hut on the Abel Tasman Coast Track in October and it has only just healed. Be mindful of what you are doing right to the end of the tramp...

Rocky track descending from the Otira Valley

Temple Basin from the Otira Valley Track

Yes....the silver Surfer is still there....Otira Valley Track

We passed a European couple around the point in the photo below and I commented to Karen about how stupid it was heading into a high alpine valley at that time of the day. They were only carrying the clothes they were in and didn't have any warm clothing etc. Sure it is summer and day light savings but it is still a bit dubious starting out on a tramp that late in the day. 

Better to be well prepared and cautious than dead....

Approaching the end of the Otira Valley Track

DOC car park at the start of the Otira Valley Track

It was great to get back up the Otira Valley after several years...this really is one of the best short walks in Arthur's Pass National Park. Its not that difficult a track..you just need to be prepared and have the right skills and gear if going past the bridge. I really must come back here soon and show you what its like in the cirque under the western face of Mt Rolleston...preferably before Autumn arrives. 

Camping trip anyone?

Access: Track starts just to the west of Arthur's Pass on SH73, there is a small car-park on the left of the road
Track Times: 1.5 hours to the foot bridge over the Otira River, another 1-1.5 hours to the cirque at the base of Mt Rolleston, same to return.
Miscellaneous:Extreme avalanche danger in spring/winter along all of this track. Do not enter the valley in winter after heavy rain or a late spring snow storm. I'm really not joking...it looks OK but is awesomely dangerous until the snow pack melts....people have died in avalanches in this valley!!!