Makarora, New Zealand
Top Spots in and near Makarora
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Makarora, New Zealand
Backpack the Gillespie Pass Circuit, New Zealand
5.044.7 mi / 4266 ft gainThe 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...Read more -
Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand
Hike to the Blue Pools
4.50.3 mi / 10 ft gainFrom 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.Read more -
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...Read more -
Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand
Backpack the Brewster Hut Track
5.011.2 mi / 5656 ft gainTwenty 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...Read more -
Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand
Hike Brewster Track to Mt. Armstrong
5.05.6 mi / 5577.4 ft gainAfter 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...Read more -
The Neck, New Zealand
Hike Isthmus Peak
5.09.9 mi / 4544 ft gainThe 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...Read more -
Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand
Backpack MacPherson Creek to Lake Barra
5.07.5 mi / 5249.3 ft gainIf 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...Read more -
Gladstone, New Zealand
Hike the Breast Hill Track to Pakituhi Hut
3.05 mi / 1312.3 ft gainFrom 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 ...Read more -
Cattle Flat, New Zealand
Climb the Buchanan Peaks above Lake Wanaka
5.018.6 mi / 8202.1 ft gainFrom 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...Read more -
Cattle Flat, New Zealand
Hike the Minaret Burn Track
8.7 miThe 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...Read more -
Albert Town, New Zealand
Bike along the Clutha River
17.4 miThe 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...Read more -
Mount Aspiring, New Zealand
Hike to the Rob Roy Glacier
5.06.2 mi / 1625 ft gainFollow 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...Read more -
Mount Aspiring, New Zealand
Backpack the Matukituki Valley
5.024.9 mi / 4822.8 ft gainThe 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...Read more -
Glendhu Bay, New Zealand
Roys Peak Track
5.06.8 mi / 4127.3 ft gainThis 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...Read more -
Glendhu Bay, New Zealand
Hike the Skyline Track
11.8 mi / 4000 ft gainThe 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...Read more -
Glendhu Bay, New Zealand
Hike to Diamond Lake
1.6 mi / 721.8 ft gainFrom 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...Read more