South To Haast
About 26km south of Fox Glacier, along SH6, the Copland Valley is the western end of the Copland Track (three days one-way). Challenging and spectacular, the walk is usually tackled east to west (starting from Mt Cook), but from SH6 you can still do a six- to seven-hour walk up Copland Valley to overnight at the Welcome Flat DOC Hut ($15), where thermal springs bubble. Backcountry Hut Passes don't apply here, but you can buy tickets at any West Coast DOC office or visitor information centre.
Popular with Haast to Fox cyclists and Copland Track trampers, the Pine Grove Motel (% 03-751 0898; pine_grove@xtra.co.nz; SH6; un-powered & powered sites $20, d $40-90) is 8km south of the trailhead. Units are affordable and in reasonable shape.
A bit like Dr Evil's shark pool are these fish ponds on the Paringa River. The Salmon
Farm Café & Shop ( % 03-751 0837; SH6; meals $10-30; h 8am-4pm) serves salmon-filled omelettes, platters, pastas and fresh pâté. It's $1 to feed the fish, but the plump little buggers don't look hungry.
There's a basic DOC camping ground (adult/child $6/1.50) 70km south of Fox Glacier at Lake Paringa, a tranquil trout-filled lake surrounded by swaying forest boughs.
The historic Haast-Paringa Cattle Track hoofs off from SH6 (just south of Lake Paringa, 43km northeast of Haast) and emerges on the coast by the Waita River, just north of Haast. The track's first leg to Blowfly Hut (four hours return) is an easy-going half-day hike. The full walk takes three days, stopping at Maori Saddle Hut and Coppermine Creek Hut. The track can get muddy - check conditions and pay hut fees ($5 per night) at the DOC Haast visitor information centre (right).
Lake Moeraki, 31km north of Haast, is another rippling fishing lake. An easy 40-minute walk from here brings you to Monro Beach, a west-facing gravel beach copping the full Tasman Sea force. There's a breeding colony of Fiordland crested penguins here (July to December) and fur seals. Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki ( % 03-7500881;www.wildernesslodge.co.nz;SH6; d incl breakfast $720-980; i ) is a pricey, private ecolodge with plush rooms and cooked breakfasts. The steep tariff includes a prime coastal location and free guided walking, fishing and canoe trips. Enjoy.
About 5km south of Lake Moeraki is the much-photographed Knights Point (named after a surveyor's dog) where the Haast road was eventually opened in 1965. Deep waters just offshore and uninterrupted Antarctic swells make this a favoured eatery for seals, birds and sometimes whales.
Ship Creek, 15km north of Haast, has a lookout platform and two interesting interpretive walks: the Dune Lake Walk (30 minutes return) and the Kahikatea Swamp Forest Walk (20
minutes return).
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