Editing Lindis Pass (section)

{{Short description|Mountain pass in the South Island of New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Lindis Pass
| photo = 20250221-DJI 0950.jpg
| photo_caption = Aerial Lindis Pass
| elevation_m = 971
| elevation_ref = 
| traversed = [[New Zealand State Highway 8|State Highway 8]]
| map = New Zealand
| location = New Zealand
| range = [[Southern Alps (New Zealand)|Southern Alps]]
| coords = {{coord|44.587786|S|169.647757|E|type:pass|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| topo = 
}}
[[File:Lindis Pass 27.jpg|thumb|Lindis Pass in summer]]
[[File:Lindis Pass in winter.jpg|thumb|Lindis Pass in winter]]
[[File:Lindis Pass deer statue.jpg|thumb|Monument erected in 1971 celebrating 100 years since red deer were first liberated in Otago]]

The '''Lindis Pass''' ({{langx|mi|Ōmakō}})<ref>{{Cite web |title=Whenua - Ōmakō |url=https://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/our_stories/whenua/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu |language=en-NZ}}</ref> (elevation 971 m) is located in the [[South Island]] of New Zealand.<ref>{{LINZ|26544|Lindis Pass|17 March 2018}}</ref>

The Lindis Pass lies between the valleys of the [[Lindis River|Lindis]] and [[Ahuriri River]]s. It lies between the towns of [[Cromwell, New Zealand|Cromwell]] (78&nbsp;km, 55 minutes drive) in [[Central Otago]] and [[Omarama]] (32&nbsp;km, 21 minutes drive) in [[North Otago]], on the main inland route to [[Canterbury Region|Canterbury]]'s [[Mackenzie Basin]].

[[New Zealand State Highway 8|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]], after the [[Desert Road]] on [[New Zealand State Highway 1|SH 1]] in the central [[North Island]]. 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Lindis Conservation Area|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/canterbury/places/lindis-conservation-area/|access-date=2020-09-20|website=[[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] |language=en-nz}}</ref> 

The Lindis Pass 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mountainous Otago Lindis Pass highway gets web camera {{!}} Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency|url=https://www.nzta.govt.nz/media-releases/mountainous-otago-lindis-pass-highway-gets-web-camera/|access-date=2020-09-20|website=www.nzta.govt.nz}}</ref> Vehicle crashes on the Lindis Pass have occurred regularly.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-30|title=Truck crashes in Lindis Pass|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/300045131/truck-crashes-in-lindis-pass|access-date=2020-09-20|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-02|title=One person received minor injuries in two-vehicle crash on Lindis Pass|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/118561505/four-injured-in-two-vehicle-crash-on-lindis-pass|access-date=2020-09-20|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Gibb|first=John|date=2019-01-19|title=Person airlifted from Lindis Pass crash|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/central-otago/person-airlifted-lindis-pass-crash|access-date=2020-09-20|website=[[Otago Daily Times]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Serious crash blocks Lindis Pass road|language=en-NZ|work=TVNZ|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/serious-crash-blocks-lindis-pass-road|access-date=2020-09-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-10-04|title=Lindis Pass closes after crash|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/367883/lindis-pass-closes-after-crash|access-date=2020-09-20|website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref> The lack of cellphone coverage around the Lindis Pass adds to the danger of crashes,<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2018|title=2018 update of the Otago Southland Regional Land Transport Plans 2015-2021|url=https://www.orc.govt.nz/media/5738/section-23-24.pdf|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Otago Regional Council}}</ref><ref name="Price">{{Cite web|last=Price|first=Mark|date=2013-06-08|title=The quiet hills - where your cellphone won't work|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/quiet-hills-where-your-cellphone-wont-work|access-date=2020-09-20|website=[[Otago Daily Times]] |language=en}}</ref> as rescue services may not learn of any crashes for some time. The New Zealand Transport Agency has upgraded aspects of SH 8 over the Lindis Pass by installing new wire-rope safety barriers, improving signage and installing electronic speed warnings in 2013.<ref name="Price"/>

A carpark at the top of the pass provides access to a viewpoint and two short trails to other viewing spots.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-31|title=Lindis Pass, New Zealand - How to Find the BEST Lindis Pass Viewpoint|url=https://destinationlesstravel.com/lindis-pass-new-zealand/|access-date=2020-09-20|website=Destinationless Travel|language=en-US}}</ref> The pass is surrounded on all sides by grassland which includes snow tussock. Buttercups (''ranunculus haastii'') are very common on nearby Longslip Mountain (elevation {{convert|1494|m|ft}}).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lindis Pass {{!}} Wanaka, New Zealand|url=https://www.newzealand.com/int/feature/lindis-pass/|access-date=2020-09-20|website=www.newzealand.com|language=en}}</ref> [[Kārearea]] (New Zealand falcon), [[pihoihoi]] (New Zealand pipit), and [[spotted skink]] can be seen in the Lindis Pass. The lower altitude beech forests and shrublands provide habitat for [[pīwakawaka]] (fantail), [[riroriro]] (grey warbler), and [[tītitipounamu]] (rifleman).<ref name=":0" />