Burkes Pass

Built around a road route over a high-country pass, Burkes Pass developed into a small settlement on the eastern approach to Canterbury’s Mackenzie Basin. At 709 metres above sea level, it lies on State Highway 8, linking Fairlie with Lake Tekapo and South Island interior routes. Open tussock grassland and broad upland terrain define the setting, while the Southern Alps form the region’s mountain backdrop. The pass takes its name from Michael John Burke, an Irish shepherd credited with finding a practicable route into Mackenzie Country in 1855. See how Burkes Pass connects with Canterbury’s high country by browsing webcams nearby.

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