Chapel of the Snows

There's an argument in favour of making the 2-hour drive from Christchurch just to sit for 10 minutes in the Chapel of the Snows, in the hub of Arthur's Pass village, and reflect upon the world.

This pint-sized church is always open to casual visitors – enter its porch, open the door and be mesmerised by the view through an enormous wall-to-wall window looking straight into a steep slope of beech and the Avalanche Creek Waterfall. It is breathtaking… sit, look and think. Prominent Canterbury architect Paul Pascoe designed the chapel and it was built in 1956. Pascoe, considered a pioneer of modernist architecture, loved tramping and climbing in the Arthur's Pass and Springfield area.

The slate for the chapel roof came from Wales, the lantern above the entry is a replica of a lantern from one of the early ships to arrive in Canterbury, the internal furnishings are mainly rimu and the external walls are covered with selected boulders from the Bealey River brought to the site by volunteers. Services are normally held in the chapel at Christmas, and Easter.

81 West Coast Road, Arthur’s Pass.

(03) 317 9079.