Burkes Pass: Gateway to Mackenzie Basin
Burkes Pass is a small town located on State Highway 8, serving as the main mountain pass into the Mackenzie Basin. Positioned between Fairlie and Lake Tekapo, this area is known for its rich early history and the distinctive Three Creeks Art and Gift Shop.
Historical Landmarks and Architecture
Burkes Pass is home to several historical features. Across the road from the Three Creeks shop, you'll find cob houses, a small historic post office, and a larger house that once supported the local road board. This house later became the office of the Mackenzie County Council until the council relocated to Fairlie in 1891. As you head towards the pass, you'll encounter the charming St Patrick’s Church, followed by a historic cemetery and a monument to Michael Burke at the top of the pass, 4 km from the town.
Three Creeks Burke Pass
The Three Creeks stores are a treasure trove of mainly automobile-oriented memorabilia, collectibles, and museum pieces. You can explore vintage cars, old gas pumps, and cartwheels. Additionally, the shop has heavy-weight wooden outdoor furniture and refreshments like coffee and cheese rolls. If you're interested in skiing history, check out the old ski collections displayed on the fence west of the car park.
The Significance of Burkes Pass
At an elevation of 709 meters, Burkes Pass separates the Two Thumb Range to the north from the Rollesby and Albury ranges to the south. Historically, Māori used the pass to access the Mackenzie Basin, which they knew as Te Manahuna.
The pass is named after Michael Burke, who drove a team of bullocks through it in 1855, although G. Dunnage camped nearby before Burke's journey. The route served as an alternative to Mackenzie Pass, famously used by sheep rustler James Mackenzie.
From Burkes Pass, you can take a scenic side trip to Mackenzie Pass. This involves following Rollesby Valley Road from State Highway 8 to Mackenzie Pass Road, then continuing onto Haydon Road in the Mackenzie Basin, and looping back to State Highway 8. Although the road is gravel, it is a relatively easy drive.
The Evolution of Burkes Pass Town
A dray track was constructed through Burkes Pass between 1857 and 1858. Initially, the journey over the pass was arduous, prompting the establishment of a way station west of the pass near Sawdon Creek in 1859. However, this location was exposed and unappealing, leading early settler James Noonan to build the first hotel on the east side, at the more sheltered and lower foot of the pass, in 1861 near the Ōpihi River.
The town, originally named Cabbage Tree Creek, then Clulee, and finally Burkes Pass, was expected to become the county seat of Mackenzie Country. Plans included extending the railway line from Fairlie up the Ōpihi River Valley, but the railway never advanced past Fairlie, and the council moved there in 1891. The town's population peaked at 143 in 1910.
Unique Wildlife
Curious fact: Burkes Pass is notable for being home to the critically endangered Canterbury knobbled weevil. This rare insect lives exclusively on speargrass and has only been found within a 3-hectare area at Burkes Pass.
Getting to Burkes Pass
To reach Burkes Pass, travel along State Highway 8, which connects Fairlie and Tekapo. The town is easily accessible by car and provides a scenic route through the Mackenzie Basin.
Other nearby places to visit include Lake Opuha, Mt John and Lake Alexandrina.
