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Haast

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Haast is a German family name. It may refer to: High Availability for Asterisk, a software package which turns any two Asterisk servers into a cluster Bill Haast (1910–2011), founder of the Miami Serpentarium and pioneering snake venom collector Julius von Haast (1822–1887), German geologist and explorer of New Zealand; several things in New Zealand are named for him: Haast's eagle, extinct species of giant eagle identified by Haast and eventually named for him Haast, New Zealand, township on the Tasman Sea Haast Aerodrome, aerodrome adjacent Haast in New Zealand Haast Pass, a mountain pass in the Southern Alps Haast River, a river on the West Coast of the South Island Haast Schist, kind of rock found in New Zealand Anne Haast (born 1993), Dutch chess player Cees Haast (1938–2019), Dutch cyclist

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WBP almanac

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

From Wikipedia

179 words · source ↗

WBP editorial

A gateway for glacial walks

Nestled at the terminus of State Highway 6, Haust serves as the practical launch pad for the Haast Pass trail network. While the town itself is modest, the surrounding tramping tracks grant access to the Haast River’s sandbanks and the ancient beech forest of the Westland Wilderness. Early‑morning departures avoid the river’s midday mist, and a short drive beyond the settlement leads to the isolated Franz Josef Glacier viewpoint, a quieter alternative to the busier tourist base further north. Pack lightweight rain gear; the coastal climate shifts quickly, turning a sunny walk into a drizzly scramble in minutes.

Taste of the West Coast beyond the surf

Haast’s limited eateries draw on fresh, locally sourced produce: smoked salmon harvested from the river, and stone‑ground kumara chips cooked in a communal oil bath at the town’s cafe. Visitors can join the weekend fish‑cooking sessions run by resident fishmongers, where the catch is cleaned and grilled on a communal fire pit beside the riverbank. The experience offers a glimpse into the self‑reliant lifestyle that defines many West Coast settlements, where community meals replace the polished restaurant scene of larger cities.

When to time the tide

The Haast River’s tidal reach extends far inland, influencing the accessibility of low‑lying tracks and the safety of river fording. The safest window for crossing the river on foot or by bike is during low tide, typically between 10 am and 2 pm in the summer months. Checking the regional tide tables, available at the local shop, helps avoid getting caught in the swift spring surge that can transform shallow fords into hazardous rapids. Planning your day around the tide also ensures the best light for photography of the river’s glassy surface against the backdrop of the Southern Alps.

Introduction

Look up Haast or haast in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Haast is a German family name. It may refer to: High Availability for Asterisk, a software package which turns any two Asterisk servers into a cluster Bill Haast (1910–2011), founder of the Miami Serpentarium and pioneering snake venom collector Julius von Haast (1822–1887), German geologist and explorer of New Zealand; several things in New Zealand are named for him: Haast's eagle, extinct species of giant eagle identified by Haast and eventually named for him Haast, New Zealand, township on the Tasman Sea Haast Aerodrome, aerodrome adjacent Haast in New Zealand Haast Pass, a mountain pass in the Southern Alps Haast River, a river on the West Coast of the South Island Haast Schist, kind of rock found in New Zealand Anne Haast (born 1993), Dutch chess player Cees Haast (1938–2019), Dutch cyclist Topics referred to by the same term This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Haast.If an internal link incorrectly led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.