Lindis Pass (elevation 971 m) is located in the

South Island The South Island, also officially named , is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand in surface area, the other being the smaller but more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman ...

of New Zealand. A carpark at the top of the pass provides access to a viewpoint and two short trails to other viewing spots. Lindis Pass lies between the towns of

Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three Ki ...

(78km, 55 minutes drive) in

Central Otago Central Otago is located in the inland part of the Otago region in the South Island of New Zealand. The motto for the area is "A World of Difference". The area is dominated by mountain ranges and the upper reaches of the Clutha River and tribu ...

and

Omarama Omarama is a small town (population 291 at 2018 census) at the junction of State Highways 8 and 83, near the southern end of the Mackenzie Basin, in the South Island of New Zealand. Omarama is in the Waitaki District, in the southern Canterb ...

(32km, 21 minutes drive) in

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the primate of t ...

, on the main inland route to the Waitaki Basin in the Otago Region. The pass lies between the valleys of the Lindis and

Ahuriri River The Ahuriri River is a river in the Canterbury and Otago Regions of the South Island of New Zealand. The headwaters are on the eastern flanks of the Southern Alps. The river flows for through the southernmost part of the Mackenzie Basin before ...

State Highway 8 transverses the pass on its route from the Waitaki Basin to Central Otago. The pass is the highest point on the South Island's state highway network, and the second highest point on the

New Zealand state highway network The New Zealand state highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Nearly 100 roads in the North and South Islands are state highways. All state highways are administered by the NZ Transport Agency. The highways were ...

, after the Desert Road ( SH 1) in the Central

North Island The North Island, also officially named Te Ika-a-Māui, is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but much less populous South Island by the Cook Strait. The island's area is , making it the world's 14th-largest ...

. Despite this, it is not considered one of the alpine passes as it located in the dry interior of the South Island. Summers are typically hot and dry while heavy snow and frequent ice are common in winter. The Lindis had a web camera installed in 2018 to help ensure traffic controllers and maintenance crews can monitor the highway as well as informing travellers so they are prepared for road conditions. Vehicle crashes on the Lindis Pass have occurred regularly. There is no cell phone coverage on the Lindis Pass. The New Zealand Transport Agency has upgraded aspects of state highway 8 over Lindis Pass by installing new wire-rope safety barriers, improving signage and installing electronic speed warnings in 2013. Lindis Pass deer statue

Lindis Pass is surrounded on all sides by grassland which comprises snow tussocks. Buttercups (''ranunculus haastii'') are very common on Longslip Mountain (1494 metres). The New Zealand falcon/kārearea, New Zealand pipit/pihoihoi and spotted skink can be seen in the Lindis Pass. The lower altitude beech forests and shrublands provide habitat for fantail/pīwakawaka, grey warbler/riroriro and rifleman/tītitipounamu.

References

Landforms of Canterbury, New Zealand Mountain passes of New Zealand Transport in Canterbury, New Zealand Landforms of Otago {{Canterbury-geo-stub