The pass itself is located at the boundary of the Waitaki and the Central Otago districts. In this location, it is also the boundary between the Canterbury and Otago regions. The road lies between the Maniototo plain (part of the Taieri River water catchment) and the northern foothills of the Kakanui Mountains (part of the Waitaki River catchment). Much of the road going over Danseys Pass is unsealed and is occasionally cut directly from the Haast Schist bedrock. The road was built for the owners of large sheep runs, the brothers Allan McLean and John McLean.