Top Adventures in Mount Aspiring National Park
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...
Backpack the Gillespie Pass Circuit, New Zealand
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 anticlockwi...
44.7 miles
4266 ft gain
Hike to the Rob Roy Glacier
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 Flat...
6.2 miles
1625 ft gain
Backpack the Matukituki Valley
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 ...
24.9 miles
4822.8 ft gain
Backpack to Aspiring Hut
If it is your first time backpacking - this is exactly what you're looking for. I'm not joking! Not only was this my first time camping (the night before), but this was also my first backpacking trip. And the tramp is also a great choice for famil...
11.2 miles
531.5 ft gain
Hike to the Blue Pools
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.
0.3 miles
10 ft gain
Hike Isthmus Peak
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 d...
9.9 miles
4544 ft gain
Hike to the Summit of Treble Cone
If you're in Wanaka, you cannot miss this hike. If the ski area is closed for the season you can still hike there but please check in with the Treble Cone Office in Wanaka. Begin at the ski field parking area and climb among snow slops and service...
4 miles
2296.6 ft gain
Climb the Buchanan Peaks above Lake Wanaka
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 th...
18.6 miles
8202.1 ft gain
Hike the Minaret Burn Track
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 ...
8.7 miles
Backpack the Brewster Hut Track
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 bee...
11.2 miles
5656 ft gain
Hike Brewster Track to Mt. Armstrong
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 treelin...
5.6 miles
5577.4 ft gain
