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  • Makarora, New Zealand

    Top Spots in and near Makarora

    • Makarora, New Zealand

      Backpack the Gillespie Pass Circuit, New Zealand

      5.0
      44.7 mi / 4266 ft gain
      The small township of Makarora West is the kickoff point for this 3-5 day circuit that guides you through a strikingly beautiful and wild corner of the Southern Alps in New Zealand. My tramping companion and I decided to hike the route anticlockwise, although the trail can be traveled in both dir...
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    • Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand

      Hike to the Blue Pools

      4.5
      0.3 mi / 10 ft gain
      From the carpark the trail can easily be identified across the street. A short walk through native beech forest and over a long swing-bridge takes you to the boardwalk just before reaching the bridge over the Blue Pools.  
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    • Makarora, New Zealand

      Camping on Lake Wanaka

      This is an awesome spot to stop and camp for the evening if you are traveling on the SH6 either west to the coast or east into Wanaka and beyond. From the campsite, you can hike up Boundary Creek Track, during the day.There are 40 non-powered tent sites (nondescript, large grassy areas to pitch t...
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    • Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand

      Backpack the Brewster Hut Track

      5.0
      11.2 mi / 5656 ft gain
      Twenty kilometers north of Haast Pass (568m/1864ft) there is a carpark for Fantail Falls, a beautiful waterfall with numerous rock cairns displayed at its base. From here, take a 3-4 hour hike along Brewster Hut Track (more like climb) through beech forest and then alpine tussock to reach Brewste...
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    • Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand

      Hike Brewster Track to Mt. Armstrong

      5.0
      5.6 mi / 5577.4 ft gain
      After a short walk from the Fantail Falls parking lot, the trail crosses the river to reach the beginning of the track. It's unlikely you'll avoid getting your feet wet.The track heads up through the steep and rooted slopes until you break treeline after several thousand feet of elevation gain. N...
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    • The Neck, New Zealand

      Hike Isthmus Peak

      5.0
      9.9 mi / 4544 ft gain
      The Isthmus Peak Track is a 16km out-and-back hike to the summit of Isthmus Peak (1,385 meters), where you get great views of Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka and the Southern Alps. The track starts off the Lake Hawea section of SH6, about a 30 minute drive from Wanaka Township, and there's a yellow 'I...
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    • Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand

      Backpack MacPherson Creek to Lake Barra

      5.0
      7.5 mi / 5249.3 ft gain
      If you’re ready for an advanced challenge to suit any adventurous spirit and have the skills to navigate complicated terrain then the narrow MacPherson Creek drainage on the fringes of Mount Aspiring National Park may grab your interest. Diving in from the MacPherson Creek bridge on the Haast Roa...
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    • Gladstone, New Zealand

      Hike the Breast Hill Track to Pakituhi Hut

      3.0
      5 mi / 1312.3 ft gain
      From the road to Pakituhi Hut the track is a steady climb rising 400 meters on a formed zig-zag track to a small saddle. You'll get increasingly better views of Lake Hawea as you climb up the switch-backs, and you might walk alongside some sheep that make the uphill slog look much easier than it ...
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    • Cattle Flat, New Zealand

      Climb the Buchanan Peaks above Lake Wanaka

      5.0
      18.6 mi / 8202.1 ft gain
      From Wanaka-Mt. Aspiring Road, head west out of town and past Glendhu Bay (and Roy's Peak). Go right on West Wanaka Station Road and follow it until the obvious split towards the Homestead Bay / Minaret Burn Track parking area to the right.Take the Minaret Burn / Homestead Bay track approximately...
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    • Cattle Flat, New Zealand

      Hike the Minaret Burn Track

      8.7 mi
      The Minaret Burn Track starts at the end of West Wanaka Road at Homestead Bay, which many tourists (and locals!) unknowingly drive past on their way to Treble Cone, Diamond Lake and/or the Rob Roy glacier. The start of the track is signposted and trail times to Colquhouns Beach (2-3 hrs; 7km) and...
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    • Albert Town, New Zealand

      Bike along the Clutha River

      17.4 mi
      The Upper Clutha River track and Newcastle track can be joined to form a great ~28km loop that I highly recommend as a long run or a fun mountain bike ride. I suggest parking at the Hawea River swing bridge in Albert Town and starting off by going over the swing bridge to pick up the signposted N...
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    • Mount Aspiring, New Zealand

      Hike to the Rob Roy Glacier

      5.0
      6.2 mi / 1625 ft gain
      Follow the Wanaka-Mount Aspiring Rd. west of Lake Wanaka. The pavement turns into a dirt road shortly after you drive around the lake. You will drive for about an hour, then park at Raspberry Flats in the Matukituki Valley. From the Raspberry Flats lot, the trailhead begins at the swing bridge ab...
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    • Mount Aspiring, New Zealand

      Backpack the Matukituki Valley

      5.0
      24.9 mi / 4822.8 ft gain
      The West Matukituki Valley is a playground for those who love the outdoors. There are 2 sub-alpine huts, one on either side of the river, that make great backpacking destinations. French Ridge Hut (1470m) and Liverpool hut (~1140m) are both about 40km return trips from the carpark, and each can b...
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    • Glendhu Bay, New Zealand

      Roys Peak Track

      5.0
      6.8 mi / 4127.3 ft gain
      This is a very strenuous uphill hike, with very few level stretches along the way, so make sure you have a good level of fitness, and wear sturdy shoes to avoid blisters, as the way back down will be hard on your knees and feet. The track begins on private land, which is grassy with lots of shee...
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    • Glendhu Bay, New Zealand

      Hike the Skyline Track

      11.8 mi / 4000 ft gain
      The Roys Peak carpark is an accessible trailhead 10 minutes outside of Wanaka that rewards anyone willing to spend a few hours slogging their way uphill with EPIC views of Lake Wanaka, the surrounding mountain ranges, and Aspiring National Park in the distance. For those who are interested in som...
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    • Glendhu Bay, New Zealand

      Hike to Diamond Lake

      1.6 mi / 721.8 ft gain
      From the car park follow the well marked trail. You will continue gradually uphill for around 30 minutes before reaching Diamond Lake. You can continue past the lake for approximately 15 minutes to get to a viewing platform. This part of the trail winds steeply uphill in a combination of grave...
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